Re: BREAKING NEWS : Gilchrist announces his retirement
He made his test debut in 1999!
Played 96 test matches. While Tendulkar made his test debut in 1989, 10 years before him and has played 146 test matches.
Aussies sure play a lot more tests than other teams.
Then again in 9 years he has more than 400 catches and stumps, an amazing accomplaishment.
True....but 2008 has only just started! so Gilly (test debut in Nov. 1999)** actually achieved all that in only 8 years and 2 months!**
Hence the need for sub-continental teams to (cut down on one-day cricket) play more tests per year....7-9 matches in a year is not enough. The Aussies play 12-16 tests per year which allows their best players to play the maximum number of test matches during their peak years. Ponting is another example.
If Gavaskar and Miandad for instance had the luxury of playing 12-16 tests (per year) during their peak years, I am sure they would have scored in excess of 12,000 test runs. The same goes for bowlers. Even now we don't play as much test cricket as we should.
Hussey aged 32 made his (belated) test debut just over 2 years ago (Nov 2005) but if he continues his present form, he may still end his career with 7-8,000+ test runs!