Cricket: Cricket-Gilchrist defends Warne after first Test heartbreak

ANGALORE, India (AFP) - Australia's caretaker captain Adam Gilchrist sprang to Shane Warne's defence after the leg-spinner fell agonisingly short of becoming Test cricket's leading bowler.

Warne, who needed one more wicket to equal Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan's world record of 532 wickets, failed to strike in 13 overs on the fifth day of the first Test against India here on Sunday.

The champion spinner was hammered for 55 runs by the Indian tail before Australia carved out a 217-run win to take a 1-0 lead in the four-match series.

"I know a lot can be said about Warney's bowling on the final day, but I beg to differ," said Gilchrist, standing in for the injured Ricky Ponting for the first two Tests.