‘I’m done’ - Adam Gilchrist reveals moment when he decided to retire from Test cricket

Former Australia cricketer Adam Gilchrist is undoubtedly one of the greatest wicketkeeper-batters the game has seen. The 52-year-old revolutionised the role of the wicketkeeper and inspired many who followed in his footsteps. Gilchrist was a part of one of the most successful periods in the history of Australian cricket, where the side won multiple World Cups and dominated every team that they played against. 

However, despite Gilchrist’s greatness, there came a time when the star player knew it was time to hang up his boots. Gilchrist recalled a moment from a series when team India toured Australia and how former India batter VVS Laxman played a big role in him deciding to retire. 

“Funny thing happened when India were in Australia, the last time I played against them. I was trying to attempt to take a catch off the bowling of Brett Lee, and having the night before, I had been working out my travel plans. We were touring the West Indies, and on that tour, I was going to get myself to 99 Tests, and then after that, we were gonna tour India, where I would have played my 100th Test,” Gilchrist told the Club Prairie Fire podcast.

“The next day, I attempted to take a catch off the outside edge of VVS Laxman, dropped it. An absolute soda, as easy as it gets, the ball hit the ground, I looked at the replay again and again and again, and then I turned to Matthew Hayden, ‘I am done, I am out’,” Gilchrist said.

The video of the same was shared by Club Prairie Fire on their official Instagram account. It is worth noting that the clash against India where Gilchrist took the catch indeed proved to be his final Test match.

Throughout his career, the former wicketkeeper-batter played 96 Test matches, where he scored 5570 runs, where he hit 17 centuries and 26 half centuries. He completely retired from international cricket in 2008 as well, after playing his final ODI on March 4, 2008, and his final T20I on February 1, 2008.