Jason Gillespie has been shielded from questions regarding the job of England head coach, while his director of cricket at Yorkshire, Martyn Moxon, has admitted that the rumours linking the Australian with the role are in danger of becoming a permanent distraction to England’s champion county.
England’s newly installed director of cricket, Andrew Strauss, said on Tuesday that Gillespie was one of the candidates to replace the sacked Peter Moores. The 40-year-old Gillespie has an impressive CV, having guided Yorkshire to the County Championship last season.
Although no official approach has been made for the former fast bowler who won 71 Test caps for Australia, Moxon said he had begun to make back-up plans should Gillespie leave.
“It’s pretty distracting for me, if I’m honest,” a frustrated Moxon said on Wednesday after Yorkshire had wrapped up a 305-run victory against Hampshire. “As I’ve reiterated, we’ll have to see what happens officially but clearly I am having to think about the what ifs.”
Gillespie, a particularly media-savvy coach, is generally very eager to speak freely to the press after a match. However at Headingley it was Moxon who was sent out to face reporters while the coach left the ground quickly after the close of play without talking about the situation regarding the England job.
“It’s difficult for him to say anything,” Moxon said when asked why Gillespie had not been allowed to speak to the assembled media. “Rather than him just standing here saying: ‘No comment,’ it’s better to just not say anything until we have something official. At the moment, because he has nothing concrete he can tell you, then there’s no point him being here to say no comment.”
Although Yorkshire were clearly keen to protect Gillespie from the reporters it was odd that, a day after being named as a candidate by Strauss, he was not made available to give his reaction to the news.
Albeit cautiously, Moxon did admit to annoyance that, while England are seemingly targeting four or five coaching candidates, only Gillespie was addressed by name in the England and Wales Cricket Board press conference.
“It would be nice if you get to know these things first,” Moxon continued. “I guess it’s not easy for Strauss when he’s pushed on these kind of matters. It’s easy for names to come out so I don’t hold it against him.
“We have been assured that if any approach happens it will be done in the correct manner and we trust the ECB to do that. They are aware of the games we’ve got and how we feel about wanting Jason to be able to concentrate on his day job, and I am sure they’ll respect that.”
A coach himself, Moxon was keen to stress that while he was finding the speculation a distraction, the Yorkshire squad were taking it in their stride.
“The team have done really well. They’re actually taking the mickey out of Dizzy a lot, they’re finding it quite fun. It could easily be distracting but they’ve managed to put that to one side and focus on the job. I think that’s one of the pleasing things of the last four days, that they haven’t let it affect them.”
Gillespie is an immensely popular coach. He has taken a hard line towards player discipline, shown by his decision to omit the fast bowler Liam Plunkett from selection for the Hampshire game after he failed to turn up for training, and has a knack for getting the best out of the most unlikely players.
The Yorkshire captain, Andrew Gale, believes that Gillespie feels firmly at home in England, a reason for turning down a role with South Australia last week. “It must have been very flattering for his home state to come calling and it was a very lucrative deal I believe,” said Gale. “He turned that deal down.
“His family and his kids are very settled at Yorkshire. The England decision is a decision only he and his wife can make if that approach does come along.”
Gale also spoke strongly of the relationship he has developed with Gillespie, something Yorkshire are keen to continue but one that England supporters will be hoping Gillespie could build with Alastair Cook.
“Our relationship has been very strong. It’s one that a lot of people admire as captain and coach around the country,” Gale added. “Jason’s impact has been massive and our relationship has been very strong in driving the club forward. If he does leave, it will be tough.”
