Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Gillespie deal done
NEW INTERIM ASSISTANT COACH SET TO JOIN KENT AHEAD OF OPENING MATCH
Kent Cricket head coach Matt Walker says the imminent arrival of Jason Gillespie as his assistant is a massive coup for the club.
The former Australia fast bowler and ex-yorkshire coach has agreed an interim role at the club as Allan Donald’s arrival has been held up due to visa issues.
South Africa pace legend Donald was named as assistant to Walker in January but won’t be granted a visa to coach in England until he meets the ECB criteria of a Level 3 coaching qualification.
Gillespie, 41, is set to fly over this weekend ahead of Kent’s First Class game against Leeds/bradford MCCU at Canterbury on Tuesday (11am).
Walker said: “We’re lucky. It’s a real shame about Allan and frustrating for everybody that hasn’t resolved itself but it’s one of those things and we move on. Nobody is more frustrated than him.
“To get Jason on board is a brilliant coup for us. He was a fantastic player, who played in a successful Australian side but also a successful coach.
“To have an experienced ex-head coach come into our ranks is brilliant for me and the lads.
“His bowling expertise are like-for-like with Allan. We were lucky. It was obviously a late call to try and get somebody in at short notice. He’s available to do it and we are excited to have him on board.”
Gillespie left Headingley last year after guiding the White Rose county to two County Championship crowns since his arrival in 2012.
He returned to Australia and coached the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash T20 competition this winter.
However, he was available for short-term coaching roles dur ing the close-season Down Under, which fits Kent’s opening.
Should Donald’s qualification be secured in time, the two legendary quicks could even cross paths at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, this summer.
Walker added: “Having someone like that, having been involved in county cricket for a number of years now, coming from the outside in, is great for us.”
Gillespie claimed more than 250 wickets in 71 Tests for Australia, making him their sixth highest wicket-taker of all time with another 142 in 97 ODI appearances.
‘To get Jason on board is a brilliant coup for us’
Walker said: “We’ve got coaching staff that have been around a bit. To have someone coming from the outside is always healthy, it’s a new set of ideas, a fresh voice. “Someone with Jason’s experience and the bloke he is – he’s a top man, I’ve known him for a little while now – he’ll cast a freshness and bring an impact to the group which we all look forward to.” Skipper Sam Northeast will miss the University game due to his involvement in the MCC County Champion game in Abu Dhabi this weekend, while Matt Coles will not feature as he continues to recover from surgery on a toe injury. Walker said: “We’ll be looking to pick a pretty strong side. We’ve only got this game and Surrey (a twoday friendly) to give players match practice.”