Jason Gillespie was part of the squad that brushed aside every team that came their way in the 2003 World Cup en route to the final against India, which turned out to be one of the most one-sided title clashes in the history of the game winning by 125 runs.
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Though Gillespie only played four games in the tournament before being forced to pull out due to heel injury, his eight wickets from four games were mighty impressive.
He was on top of his game at that time but the list of injuries began to grow longer. By the time the 2005 Ashes came, he had lost his zip and was tackled with ease by England in that memorable series.
It has been nearly a decade since Gillespie played an international match in Australia colours. But cricket fans haven’t forgotten him as his attitude, stamina and imposing bowling action made him one of the most effective bowlers in contemporary cricket, even though he shared the ball with the likes of Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Brett Lee.
It didn’t come as a surprise that Gillespie moved on to coaching after his playing days were over. His never say die approach with the ball and dogged determination with the bat proved that he had a sound cricketing brain and was someone who could mould young minds.
Starting with coaching at the grass roots level in Zimbabwe, Gillespie became the bowling coach of Kings XI Punjab in the IPL in 2011 before being made the coach of county side Yorkshire the same year.
Currently in the UAE with the Yorkshire side that will take part in the Emirates Twenty20 tournament and then the Champion County four-day match against the MCC, Gillespie is focused on getting his team prepared for the upcoming season. However, he is also keeping a keen eye on the ongoing World Cup Down Under, especially since it is happening in his country.
“I’m an Aussie and I’m proud to be an Australian and it’s been fantastic for our country and New Zealand to put on such a great tournament. It’s been a long time planning and full credit to everyone involved in getting it happen. You have got to give credit to all the cricket teams that have been participating.
“They’ve gone out there with a real positive attitude and put on a show for the crowds, which is what it’s all about,” Gillespie told Sport360º in Abu Dhabi.
And one of the main reasons Gillespie is happy to watch the proceedings is his team’s performance on the field. Australia eased into the quarter-finals after a superb show in the group stage, losing just one game – to the Kiwis in a thriller by one wicket.
“I’ve really enjoyed the style of cricket Australia have been playing. They’re being very aggressive with the bat, they’re being very aggressive with the ball and I think their fielding has been fantastic,” he said. “New Zealand are playing very similar and India has surprised me a little with their bowling attack. As for the Aussies, I love the way they’re going about their cricket.
“The batsmen are putting pressure on the bowlers and the bowlers are trying to take wickets, not just trying to stop the scoring rate, which I think is very important.”
Being a former fast bowler himself, Gillespie was quick to note that the pacers have been among the wickets even though it has been a high-scoring World Cup.
“I think the reason it’s been a seamers’ tournament is because the mentality is to try and take wickets as opposed to minimise the scoring rate. I think that’s really telling.
“We know all the batsmen are coming out and playing really positive but the bowlers are coming in with that aggressive attitude as well, looking to take wickets. I think that’s the reason that the top bowlers are having such a good World Cup because of that positive intent,” said the 39-year-old.
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For Gillespie, one of the stars of the show so far has been Aussie left-arm quick Mitchell Starc, who has picked up 16 wickets from five games with an economy of 3.67.
“I’ve loved watching Mitchell Starc’s work, I think he’s been the bowler of the tournament. He keeps it simple. There’s lots of talk about how it is best to bowl up front and in the death overs and he keeps it simple and bowls fast, full and straight.
“It’s not rocket science, he’s just managed to get the ball in the right place very often. He’s hitting the base of the stumps and landing the ball in the crease regularly. It’s simple but it’s effective,” added the quick who picked up 402 international wickets, and even cracked a double century in Tests.
For the Aussies, Pakistan are next up in the quarter-finals. Gillespie feels Pakistan pose a serious threat to the hosts and that if the men in green triumph, they can go all the way.
“They need to win games, it’s as simple as that. I can’t sugarcoat it any more. They have Pakistan next at the Adelaide Oval. Pakistan started the tournament incredibly slowly but they have hit form at the right time and that’s going to be a tough game for Australia. If they get through that then there’s no reason why they can’t win the World Cup.
“I actually predicted New Zealand to possibly win this World Cup at the start of the tournament but Pakistan and India have performed well as well and I think from the quarter-final stage this World Cup is going to be fascinating.”
While the action on the field has been sensational, one development off the field has been unpleasant as far as Gillespie in concerned.
There are reports that the number of teams for the next World will be reduced to 10 from the current 14, cutting into the number of spots for the Associate teams to showcase their skills at the world stage.
And Gillespie feels it’s the wrong way forward. “My personal opinion is that I want to see Associates in the World Cup. If we want to grow the game then it doesn’t make sense to have less teams at the World Cup.
“We need to find a way to get more teams playing and we’ve seen that some of the games with nonTest playing nations have been some of the best of the World Cup.
“The only way these countries will develop their players and become better and potentially push for that Test status is to play more tournaments and play more cricket against the big countries. “It makes no sense to me to reduce the World Cup.”
