Rejuvenated Gilchrist keen to carry on past World Cup

SYDNEY, Aug 12 (Reuters)

Australia wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, refreshed after a three-month break from the game, is keen to continue playing for his country beyond next year's World Cup.

The 34-year-old said he felt exhausted after returning from tours of South Africa and Bangladesh in April but now cannot wait for the ICC Champions Trophy and Ashes series later this year.

"If you had sat me down after Bangladesh and asked me how much time I had left in the game, you probably would have got a different answer to now," Gilchrist told The Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday. "I'm not keen on making any big statements but right now I am looking to keep playing," he added.

"I have voiced the opinion that I think there is too much cricket being played at the moment but, after a three-month break, I am dead keen for the summer to start and the Champions Trophy, the Ashes and the World Cup to begin." Gilchrist has not missed a test since playing his first one in 1999, claiming 355 dismissals to sit joint third on the all-time list.

"The keeping has been really pleasing lately," he said. "I will go to my grave saying that my job is to keep wickets." Gilchrist, who has scored over 5,000 test runs including 16 centuries, has struggled with the bat since last year's Ashes defeat, averaging under 27 compared to his career mark of nearly 49.

"I might have fallen short of my own standards with the bat, but I still am doing quite well compared to the other keepers over the course of history," he said.

"That's not to say that I won't be working hard to get the batting right." Gilchrist is relishing the prospect of trying to win back the Ashes. "I am just really looking forward to getting back out there against the likes of (Andrew) Flintoff and (Steve) Harmison and enjoying the challenge in the Ashes series later this year," he said.