Adelaide: Former Australia Test bowler Jason Gillespie today announced retirement from Australian cricket to play in a rebel Twenty20 league in India, where he has signed a three-year contract.

Gillespie, who plays for South Australia state, waited until today to announce his retirement from Australian cricket during the lunch break of his domestic match against Queensland at Adelaide Oval.

He had been widely expected to leave the game and pursue interests in the rebel Indian Cricket League but was not able to formally make his intentions clear until after the match had started.

Otherwise he risked being made ineligible to play in his farewell match because the ICL is not sanctioned by Cricket Australia.

"I'd finally like to put an end to the speculation and formally announce my retirement from first-class cricket in Australia," Gillespie said.

Gillespie said he was unsure whether he would be able to fulfill his contract with English county Glamorgan during the English summer this year.

It has been reported that the England and Wales cricket board will ban players from taking part in the County Championship if they have signed deals with ICL.

Gillespie took 259 wickets in 71 tests for Australia - an average of 26.08 - making him Australia's fifth-highest wicket-taker. His last test was in April 2006 against Bangladesh. He retires with the world record for the highest score made by a nightwatchman batsman - 201.
Source : PTI