By IANS
Melbourne : Adam Gilchrist has put speculation over his retirement at rest, making it clear that his desire to play international cricket is as strong as ever, Australia media reported.
Gilchrist has said he may be further away from retirement than he was this time last year.
There has been speculation that the first Test against India may be the Australian vice-captain’s final Test, but he indicated Friday he is still enjoying playing the game.
“This time last year I probably would have thought this one would be my last, but I am just really enjoying it,” Gilchrist said.
“It might be (my last). But there’s a good chance it won’t.
“I am not looking for any swan song or final farewell, just playing it as I go along.”
Gilchrist said a new-look Test team with the relatively fresh faces of Shaun Tait, Brad Hogg, Phil Jaques and Mitchell Johnson had helped to ensure his competitive juices were stirred.
While Gilchrist has long been a senior member of the team, his experience is more valuable than ever.
“I am really enjoying it at the moment. It is a nice position in my career to be in, too,” he said.
“I guess you always set out to enjoy it, but now it feels like we have got the opportunity to sit back and have some real fun.
“I am enjoying the new guys coming into the group, too.”
Gilchrist, 36, is the game’s premier batsman-wicketkeeper and he has revolutionised the No. 7 role in the Test arena and the opening slot in one-day cricket.
His cavalier batting and crowd-pulling ability in the 50-over game was given the ultimate reward last month when he was voted Australian cricket’s greatest one-day player.
Gilchrist, with 5420 Test runs at 49.27 in 92 Tests, has done just about everything in the game.
But there is one milestone, which may provide a fitting closing chapter — clocking 100 Tests with great mate Matthew Hayden on the Caribbean tour next May.
It would come amid a hectic year that also features tours of Pakistan and India, and a home mid-winter series against Bangladesh in Darwin and Cairns.
The West Australian has already nominated Brad Haddin as his likely successor.
Haddin is in the Gilchrist mould and has even commanded a place in the Australian one-day team with his batting alone.
Gilchrist also gave a vote of confidence to spinner Brad Hogg for the Boxing Day Test, and backed his inclusion over a fourth fast bowler.
However, he said fans should not expect Hogg to seamlessly follow in the footsteps of Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill.
“I have absolute faith in Hoggy if he gets called into the actual XI,” Gilchrist said.