Sports / Cricket
Gillespie ready to coach in Yorkshire after his stint in Zimbabwe
18 Dec 2011 at 05:53hrs | Views
Jason Gillespie, the former Aussie pace ace, 36, current coach of Zimbabwean franchise team Mid West Rhinos confirmed he has negotiated an early release from his duties in Zimbabwe subject to receiving a work permit in the UK.He says he has been delighted with the attitude and fitness of the Yorkshire players he will coach in 2012.
After a black September when chins were on the floor and egos bruised following relegation to Division Two of the LV County Championship – with players subjected to some stinging criticism most notably from chairman Colin Graves – skipper Andrew Gale and his troops have dusted themselves and are raring to go.
And new first-team coach Gillespie couldn't be happier.
On whether he has noticed a hangover effect following relegation, Gillespie, who has also served as fast-bowling coach for Australia and IPL franchise Kings XI Punjab, said: "Certainly not. From when I played before, I knew a lot of the players.
While Gillespie's primary role will be with the first team, the ex-Baggy Green Test paceman is also planning to cast his net across the whole of Yorkshire and keep up to speed with any talents developing in the county's leagues.
Last season, Yorkshire took a punt on Cleckheaton seamer Iain Wardlaw, with the Bradford League bowler rewarded with a 12-month contract after trialling and Gillespie's words will be music to the ears of both members and league supporters.
Gillespie intends to start work at Yorkshire at the end of January after a year-and-a-half coaching stint in Zimbabwe, which he insists has not only broadened his cricketing education, but his life experience has also been enriched.
The Sydney-born bowler, who played for the White Rose in 2006 and 2007 as an overseas player, has pledged that his man-management style will be relaxed and tailored to individual needs and says he has taken plenty from his coaching experiences in southern Africa.
He added: "My time in Zim' has enabled me to learn how to communicate with guys and different personalties in different situations. That's what I've taken the most.
"I suppose just living in a third-world country has been a different world, it's been one of the best experiences of my life.
"We took our family and young kids to live in Zimbabwe and they have learnt a lot.
"Learning about cricket has been great.
"But also learning about life and that sometimes cricket isn't the be-all and end-all. I'll take my experiences in Zimbabwe into my coaching career with Yorkshire."
After a black September when chins were on the floor and egos bruised following relegation to Division Two of the LV County Championship – with players subjected to some stinging criticism most notably from chairman Colin Graves – skipper Andrew Gale and his troops have dusted themselves and are raring to go.
And new first-team coach Gillespie couldn't be happier.
On whether he has noticed a hangover effect following relegation, Gillespie, who has also served as fast-bowling coach for Australia and IPL franchise Kings XI Punjab, said: "Certainly not. From when I played before, I knew a lot of the players.
While Gillespie's primary role will be with the first team, the ex-Baggy Green Test paceman is also planning to cast his net across the whole of Yorkshire and keep up to speed with any talents developing in the county's leagues.
Last season, Yorkshire took a punt on Cleckheaton seamer Iain Wardlaw, with the Bradford League bowler rewarded with a 12-month contract after trialling and Gillespie's words will be music to the ears of both members and league supporters.
The Sydney-born bowler, who played for the White Rose in 2006 and 2007 as an overseas player, has pledged that his man-management style will be relaxed and tailored to individual needs and says he has taken plenty from his coaching experiences in southern Africa.
He added: "My time in Zim' has enabled me to learn how to communicate with guys and different personalties in different situations. That's what I've taken the most.
"I suppose just living in a third-world country has been a different world, it's been one of the best experiences of my life.
"We took our family and young kids to live in Zimbabwe and they have learnt a lot.
"Learning about cricket has been great.
"But also learning about life and that sometimes cricket isn't the be-all and end-all. I'll take my experiences in Zimbabwe into my coaching career with Yorkshire."
Source - yorkshire evening post
