Jason Gillespie, the former Aussie pacer has been appointed as the head coach of South Australia according to an announcement by South Australian Cricket Association. He is one of South Australia’s most prolific bowlers with 54 Sheffield Shield matches and 71 multi-day games to his name. He played for Australia from 1996 to 2006.
He is South Australia’s third most-capped Test player behind Chappell brothers taking 259 Test wickets with best figures of seven for 37. He famously retired from Test cricket with the best score of 201 not out playing as a nightwatchman in his final match against Bangladesh in Chittagong.
Gillespie’s bowling average of 26.13 in Tests is phenomenal, whereas in ODIs too his bowling average is 25.42 which is extraordinary since he has played against the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Jacques Kallis, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid to name a few.
Jason Gillespie Had Coaching Experience With Adelaide Strikers And Yorkshire
The 45-year-old Gillespie has experience of coaching to having led Adelaide Strikers to maiden Big Bash title in 2018 and then with Yorkshire where he led the team to promotion and consecutive county championships in 2014 and 2015. He became coach of Yorkshire in November 2011 and the then first season saw the team was promoted, in the second they were runners up in the first division, then won titles in 2014 and 2015 and narrowly missed out on a third successive title in 2016.
South Australia Cricket Association chief Keith Bradshaw is assured that Jason Gillespie has been selected correctly for the role after an exclusive process of selection.
“The South Australian men’s head coaching role is the most important in South Australian cricket, and we know that Jason is the right person to invigorate our program and push it forward,” Bradshaw said in a statement.
In April 2015, he was named as the coach of Adelaide Strikers team in the Big Bash League before taking up the position of head coach of Sussex in 2018.
Gillespie played as a second fiddle to Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, but still was a reliable support bowler in a career marred with injuries.
Jason Gillespie To Become South Australian Coach After Completing Term With Sussex
Jason Gillespie will join after completing his stint with English county club Sussex.
“He is a proud South Australian with a phenomenal coaching resume behind him, we have seen how he has worked with the Strikers, leading them to their first title, and I know Jason will give it his all to steer the Redbacks in the right direction,” he added.
“We acknowledge that Jason will be in England until October as he is committed to his role with Sussex until the end of their season. This is one of the reasons we are delighted to have Jason on board. He is a quality person, once he starts something he is fully committed,” SACA Chief Executive said.
Keith Bradshaw, the chief of SACA sat on a selection panel with former Australian cricketers Michael Hussey, Rod Marsh, Belinda Clark and Tom Nielsen to decide the head coach.
Although Jason Gillespie is committed to his role with Sussex until end of the season, he is looking forward to being a part of South Australia’s cricket team’s players, coaches and support staff.
“I’m deeply honoured to be afforded the opportunity to coach the South Australian cricket team. The chance to work with the players, coaches and off-field team at the SACA is very exciting. Team SACA is something I’m very much looking forward to being a part of. I’m very excited!” Gillespie said.
Throughout his career, Jason Gillespie had suffered injuries following his debut in 1996 and his axing in 2005 Ashes series still remains afresh in minds.
He played his last Test in 2006 where he scored the highest-ever score by a nightwatchman 201 not out on his 31st birthday against Bangladesh at Chittagong in the year 2006 which was also his maiden first-class century.