Jason Gillespie’s stock has risen significantly since he took on the job of Yorkshire coach three and a half years ago. Now the Australian has admitted he would be tempted to move into international cricket – perhaps with England.
The 39-year-old is one of the brightest coaching prospects around, with Yorkshire’s first County Championship win in 13 years last summer tangible evidence of his abilities. Gillespie, who played the last of his 71 Tests for Australia in 2006, was linked with the England job before Peter Moores was picked to succeed Andy Flower last April.
Asked if he would be tempted by that job in the future, the former fast bowler admitted: “Oh, I wouldn’t rule it out, no question. I love the English game; obviously we live here, and my daughter was born here. So as I say, any opportunity that comes up you look at.”
Yorkshire have given their blessing to Gillespie pursuing coaching opportunities in Australia’s Big Bash League next winter, with the coach admitting he has already been offered one job – thought to be with Adelaide Strikers, his hometown club. Other offers have come in, too.
Australia will probably come calling whenever Darren Lehmann, their current coach, leaves his post. Yet there is good news for Yorkshire fans, as Gillespie admits he is in no rush to head home. “Talking from a pure family point of view, coaching at county level in the short term might be the best option for us,” he said. “I absolutely love my job here at Yorkshire; it’s a great gig, I really enjoy it.
“I think it’ll be great to learn about the Big Bash. Whatever I can learn I’ll bring back to county level at Yorkshire. It would be win-win for everyone.”
The current focus for both England and Australia is the teams’ opening match of the World Cup in Melbourne on Saturday, when England will come up against Mitchell Johnson, their fast-bowling nemesis, once again at the MCG.
Eoin Morgan, the England captain, and Moores tried to play down Johnson’s effect on the team after he blew them away with three wickets in 10 balls during Australia’s victory in the Tri-Series final. However, Gillespie believes there is a danger England’s state of denial over Johnson could spill over into next summer’s Ashes series.
“I know they are different forms of the game but in the back of their minds England will be thinking about the Ashes,” he said. “I certainly think the England camp is trying to downplay the significance of Mitchell Johnson. You do have to acknowledge if someone is performing well against you, then you can move on whereas if you just stay in complete denial it is just going to fester.”
The World Cup could be a big tournament for two of Gillespie’s newest recruits at Yorkshire, Australian pair Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell. Finch has signed at Headingley as an overseas player across all formats next summer, with Maxwell joining for the NatWest T20 Blast.
Gillespie revealed Maxwell, nicknamed “The Big Show” after he gained a million-dollar Indian Premier League deal in 2013, will play Second XI cricket in between his Twenty20 commitments. “I think it’s a testament to how much he wants to learn and improve his game,” said Gillespie. “He cops a little bit of criticism for playing T20 and chasing the money. But his decision to come to Yorkshire has got absolutely nothing to do with financial rewards, it’s about how he can improve his game.”
As for England’s World Cup chances, Gillespie – who on Thursday was awarded honorary life membership of the MCC, along with his former Australia team-mate Justin Langer – is positive. “They have got no pressure on them, no one is expecting them to get to a semi-final or final,” he said. “So I think they should go out and play an absolute no-fear brand of cricket. They’ve got the skill and they’ve got the players to really give it a shake.”
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