Gilchrist wanted to quit with Warne, MacGrath: Wife

Agencies

Posted online: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at 1400 hrs IST

Melbourne, February 27:
Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist wanted to join fellow greats Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath in making last year's Ashes series as his swansong, disclosed wife Melissa.

Gilchrist, who will play his last international match against India in the best-of-three finals of the ongoing tri-series, had stayed on after listening to his wife's advise.

"Adam was just so worn out, so, so tired, and it took a lot out of him. When he told me then we was thinking of retiring, I just felt that he needed to rest and build himself back up before he made such a critical decision. And, as a result, he stayed on," Melissa was quoted as saying.

Earlier, Gilchrist had said he wanted to quit after playing in the World Cup in the Carribbean.

"In the 12 months leading up to the World Cup I was very much sort of (wondering) will I, won't I and will that be the end?" he said last year.

Melissa Gilchrist said that when her husband eventually did announce he was pulling the pin on his acclaimed career during the Adelaide Test last month, she was certain the timing was right.

"When he rang this time from Adelaide and said, ‘Do you know what? I think I'm done,' I just said, ‘Yes, go for it, that sounds so right.'"

She said the decision was based on a choice of family over cricket.