The broad bat of Indian opener Virender Sehwag denied retiring Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist a fairytale finish to his Test career yesterday as the fourth Test ended in a tame draw.
After trailing by 37 on the first innings, India were 269 for seven, an overall lead of 232, when stumps were drawn early on the final day, the result handing Australia a 2-1 win in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
The home side went into the final day determined to send Gilchrist off with an unlikely win, but a docile pitch and the diligent batting of Sehwag (151) ensured there were few problems for the Indians.
PHOTO: AFP
Gilchrist said after the game he was grappling with a range of emotions having played his last Test, but was content with his decision.
"It's happiness, joy, sadness, every emotion you could imagine I suppose," he told Channel Nine. "To walk away from something you love so much ... it was a big decision but I know it is the right one."
Gilchrist revealed he tried to say a few words to his teammates before coming onto the field before tea, but was overcome with emotion.
"I tried to get a few words out during the tea break, I figured it was the last time in a Test match I'd be in the change room with just the guys," he said.
"It was very difficult, that changeroom is what means most," Gilchrist said. "I was bawling my eyes out about two minutes before it [returning to the field]."
Gilchrist did give the local crowd something to cheer by completing two dismissals to take his record tally to 416, three ahead of South Africa's Mark Boucher.
He caught VVS Laxman (12) down the leg side off Brett Lee's bowling and then caught Sehwag from the bowling of Andrew Symonds late in the day.
There was no fairytale Australian farewell for Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar either.
Having made 153 in the first innings, he survived a third umpire decision from the first ball he faced, but was run out for 13 by a direct hit from Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson.
India suffered a setback when batsman Rahul Dravid was forced to retire hurt early in the day for 11 after breaking the middle finger on his right hand when he was struck by a rising delivery from Lee.
Sehwag's 13th hundred capped an impressive return to Test cricket after he was left out of the first two Tests.
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