Australia’s Gilchrist to quit playing

PUNJAB – Adam Gilchrist said he will retire from playing cricket after his Kings XI Punjab side failed to make the IPL play-offs.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Adam Gilchrist.

PUNJAB – Adam Gilchrist said he will retire from playing cricket after his Kings XI Punjab side failed to make the IPL play-offs.Former Australia wicketkeeper and batsman Adam Gilchrist, who is player-coach of the Mohali franchise, retired from international duty in 2008 to focus on the IPL and won the title with Deccan Chargers in 2009.But after their six-wicket defeat to Delhi Daredevils on Saturday, the 40-year-old admitted it was probably his last game and that he would focus on coaching."I would say I’ve played my last game of cricket just there,” Gilchrist said. "I’ll go away and have a think about it and talk to the franchise."If the franchise is still keen to keep me involved as coach, which is a role I’ve really enjoyed, I find that I still enjoy being around the group. To be honest, I didn’t miss the cricket that much."I loved the fact that I could play the last couple of games, but I didn’t have the horrible desire that I was missing out. There isn’t that fire burning in my belly quite like it used to [be]. I have to think about it, but I just feel I won’t be playing.”In 67 IPL games, Gilchrist scored 1,775 runs for an average of 27.73 and a strike-rate of 140.20. He is one of three men to score two IPL centuries, and has hit 50-plus on 10 occasions.