Jason Gillespie

Personal life

Jason Gillespie is a descendant on his father's side of the Kamilaroi people of Indigenous Australians, and is the first acknowledged Aboriginal male to become a Test cricketer (the first Indigenous Test cricketer was Faith Thomas in 1958). His mother has Greek heritage and Jason is the eldest of the three children. He attended Cabra Dominican College in Adelaide, South Australia. Gillespie married Anna (née McEvoy) in 2003. The couple have four children. Gillespie has another daughter from a previous relationship.

Gillespie is a vegan and has criticised dairy farming and the use of leather balls. While coaching Yorkshire, Gillespie said of the club being sponsored by a dairy: "Yes, they are a sponsor but it doesn't mean I agree with what they do. It's out of my control, just like the fact that cricket balls are made of leather".

International career

Bowling

Gillespie took 259 wickets in 71 Tests (at an average of 26.13) making him Australia's sixth-highest wicket-taker and giving him the 14th best bowling average for Australian bowlers who have taken more than a hundred wickets.

Gillespie seldom dominated a Test series (the most wickets he took in a series is 20), but he was a reliable support bowler over several years for his more famous teammates Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne. For his performances in 2004, he was named both in the World Test XI and ODI XI by the ICC.

Batting

Glenn McGrath (61) and Gillespie (54*) shared a last-wicket stand of 114 against New Zealand in 2004 at the Gabba to the hilarity and acclaim of their teammates. It was the first time that either of them had made a 50 in either Test or ODI versions of the game.

In the second Test against Bangladesh at Chittagong on 19 April 2006, Gillespie (201 not out) set the world record (on his 31st birthday) for the highest individual score by a nightwatchman. This was his maiden first-class century. He also shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 320 runs with Michael Hussey. Gillespie was awarded man-of-the-match honours for his double century in the first innings and he was also named man of the series for his efforts that included eight wickets, at an average of 11.3. Due to injury, it was his final match in international cricket. As of 2025, Gillespie is the only nightwatchman to score a double century in a Test match.

Injuries

He played only 52 from a possible 92 Tests following his debut to his axing during the 2005 Ashes series. Despite these problems, he was both accurate and economical.

In Australia's 1999 tour of Sri Lanka, he was involved in a sickening outfield collision when both he and Steve Waugh were running to take a catch. Waugh was running from the infield towards the outfield, while Gillespie was running in. Waugh dived for the ball resulting in his nose and Gillespie's right leg being broken. The catch was not taken. Gillespie's career was cut short by a shoulder injury while fielding for South Australia, leading to his retirement.

Coaching career

Gillespie became a coach in Zimbabwe in August 2010. He worked primarily with the Mid West Rhinos, but also on "grassroots" activities to improve the performance of young players in Zimbabwe.

Gillespie was drafted in as the bowling coach of Indian Premier League team Kings XI Punjab after their opening match against Pune Warriors in April 2011.

In November 2011, he was named first-team coach of Yorkshire after a shake up in the club's coaching system. In his first season with Yorkshire, they were promoted from Division Two of the County Championship; in the second they were runners-up in the first division; and they won the title in 2014 and 2015, when he was one of the candidates to coach England. He returned to Australia after Yorkshire narrowly missed out on a third successive title in 2016.

In April 2015, Gillespie was named as the coach of the Adelaide Strikers team in the Big Bash League.

In July 2017, Gillespie was appointed as the interim head coach for the Papua New Guinea national team replacing former New Zealand Test player, Dipak Patel.

In 2018, Gillespie took up the position of head coach of Sussex.

In August 2020, Gillespie was appointed the new coach of South Australia.

In 2021, Gillespie was named an Australia Post Legend of Cricket.

Pakistan (2024)

In April 2024, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced Gillespie as the head coach of the Pakistan men's team in the test cricket for a two-year period. In October 2024, Gillespie was appointed coach of the white ball team on an interim basis following the departure of South Africa's Gary Kirsten. He subsequently led a white-ball tour to Australia in Kirsten's absence, securing victory in the one-day series but losing the T20 series. Aqib Javed replaced him for the following tour to Zimbabwe. On 12 December 2024, he resigned as head coach of Pakistan's Test side.

Career best performances

Recognition

A statue of Gillespie, by sculptor Ken Martin was unveiled at the Adelaide Oval in 2010.

References

References

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37. (2024-12-12). "Jason Gillespie: Ex-Australia bowler resigns as Pakistan Test side coach".
38. "Jason Gillespie quits as Pakistan red-ball coach.".
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