Gillespie makes his pitch to coach the Old Enemy's bowlers
Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday February 4, 2010
HE REMAINS convinced that Australia will win the Ashes comfortably next summer, but concerns about consorting with the former enemy - even in the face of predicted defeat - won't stop former Test quick Jason Gillespie putting his hand up to be England's next bowling coach.Gillespie, who played 69 Tests with distinction before being dropped for the fourth Ashes Test in England in 2005 after several ignominious performances, is completing his Level III coaching certificate and said he would certainly look at the job.Gillespie and fellow 2005 Ashes tourist Michael Kasprowicz were linked with the England position after the resignation of Ottis Gibson, who will take over the reins of the West Indies side to play the Prime Minister's XI in Canberra today.Gillespie has predicted an Ashes flogging, raving about the quality of Australia's bowling attack. "The Australian side is playing such good cricket and I just think the home-ground advantage is so big in the game. All countries find it hard to travel and Australia is one of the tougher tours in the program," he said.This could be Gillespie's strongest card, with an an intimate knowledge of Australian pitches and conditions an obvious plus as England try to retain the Ashes next summer and avoid a repeat of the humiliating 5-0 defeat that followed their previous home-soil victory.Other names thrown up for the job so far include former South African quick Allan Donald, who had the job in an interim capacity in 2007 before turning it down because of other commitments, and compatriot Shaun Pollock. English possibilities include Angus Fraser and Darren Gough. Geoff Lawson, the former Pakistan coach, is also interested.England's coach, Andy Flower, is expected to immediately discuss the appointment of Gibson's replacement with Hugh Morris, the managing director of England cricket. Gibson resigned less than a fortnight before England head to the United Arab Emirates to play Pakistan before travelling to Bangladesh. Gibson will take charge of the West Indies for their home series against Zimbabwe later this month.Gillespie, who signed for the rebel Indian Cricket League as the clock ran down on his career, is still owed a substantial sum by tournament organisers, and is likely to join any court action to recoup his debts.Participation in the ICL also cost Gillespie what would have been his first coaching position - a job with Cricket Australia's Centre of Excellence. "I had a discussion a while back but because I was with the ICL, Cricket Australia wasn't keen for me to be involved," he said.Gillespie, who is still playing second-grade cricket in Adelaide, said he was continuing to learn about the techniques and biomechanics of bowling. "But the main thing I could bring is the experience I've had as a player in all sorts of different conditions in every major cricketing country," he said.Gillespie believes he has a strong inkling of the limits of the coach. "Cricket is a pretty simple game, and sometimes coaches go out of their way to confuse players," he said, citing his former Test and South Australian colleague Darren Lehmann as a new coach with a similar philosophy. "I think the best coaching is the simplest coaching."
© 2010 Sydney Morning Herald