Published: Jun 29, 2015, 09:59 PM (IST)
Edited: Jun 29, 2015, 09:59 PM (IST)
It was clear Michael Clarke was amused with Jason Gillespie’s observations of the Australian touring side to England being ‘Dad’s Army’ due to the senior age of some of them, when he introduced his teammates in a peculiar fashion at the High Commission in London. Gillespie’s remarks were straightforward enough to the question he had faced, he told Guardian in an informal chat featuring a variety of topics.
“It certainly caused a stir, didn’t it? But it was very simple, I was asked the question as to how, if I was in the England camp, would I try to beat Australia. Now I saw no glaring weaknesses in the Australian team. Their batting is sound, the seam bowling is quality, the spin is very good but the opposition still need to find a way in. So I looked at the ages and thought England could target that. They have 10 players over 30 years of age, how can England use that to their advantage? VIDEO: Michael Clarke at his hilarious best, introduces Steven Smith as ‘world’s best batsman’ at Australian high commission in London
“If Chris Rogers is out there for two days then has 10 minutes to strap on his pads and get his feet moving, could that work to England’s advantage? Brad Haddin is 38 this year, so test his fitness. The same with Michael Clarke, he’s had back problems; test him out and keep him in the field. Ryan Harris, it’s well documented he has a dodgy knee, so why wouldn’t you try to keep that guy on the ground bowling lots of spells? It’s just common sense.”
Gillespie, the former Australia fast bowler and the current head coach of Yorkshire, was among the candidates tipped to clinch the role of England’s coach, after an overhaul had Peter Moores being asked to go out. This was due to the success he had with Yorkshire as a coach — he facilitated their first championship title in 13 years — and the new attitude and optimism he provided around the squad. That Trevor Bayliss, another Australian, got the England job, wasn’t of much disappointment to Gillespie, he said. READ: Darren Lehmann hardly concerned by England’s training camp at Spain
“It was so humbling to be invited to interview. The England job is one of the biggest in world cricket, so to be spoken about in those circles was something I’ll remember forever. I walked out of our conversations just thinking that, regardless of what happens, England will be in a pretty good place going forward. They have the right people in charge – I spoke to Strauss and the chief executive, Tom Harrison, and both were very impressive. They have a vision and a drive to make it work. I didn’t get the job, ultimately, but I can stick it on my resume and the experience stays with me.”
In his typical forthright disposition, he provided his own ideas on the ways of unsettling both sides from the point of view of each other, in the battles ahead. But he judged the edge was with Australia. “If England take their new carefree attitude they’ve shown into their Test cricket then, wow, because there is no doubt they have the skill and the talent but Australia start as favourites – and rightly so.
“The Australian bowlers versus Alastair Cook will be fascinating and could well shape the series. They have implemented a game plan to him in the past and I don’t see that changing. You will hardly see him play a cut or pull, or nudge one away off his hips, because Australia will be ruthless in their line to him – just on off-stump or outside. They know that if they get something off the pitch or through the air they will ask questions of his technique and if he’s not spot on with movements he will be found out. Cook should go into the series with a positive outlook as he’s scored Ashes runs in the past but Australia will believe they have the wood over him.” READ: Alastair Cook: Ashes 2015 win would by my ‘best achievement’
He visualised a sharp and well-rounded England bowling attack with the inclusion of legspinner Adil Rashid for Moeen Ali, to complement the part-time off-spin of Adam Lyth and Joe Root. On the competitiveness of the Australians boiling over to the subtle nastiness of sledging on the field, Gillespie maintained a firm stand.
“You can’t say Australia don’t play fair. We Aussies don’t shy away from playing hard but you can do that within the spirit of cricket. People who say otherwise are ill-informed.”
Gillespie’s career as a fast bowler for Australia in the world-beating team in the 2000s had him become the first indigenous Australian to play cricket for his country. “Ever since I can remember I knew we were of indigenous heritage. I was just what we were. We were proud of it but I wasn’t one to sing from the rooftops and beat my chest. I had no idea I was the first and it wasn’t until years after my debut the media cottoned on. Maybe it was naivety but I was sure there would have been lots before me; we’re all Australians after all.”
Besides Yorkshire, Gillespie will also devote efforts to coaching responsibilities for the Big Bash League team Adelaide Strikers around the Twenty20 season in Australia.
