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The stage is set for Jason the Englishman

23rd May, 2015
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Jason Gillespie recalls the greatest innings of his career. (AFP PHOTO/ Farjana K. GODHULY)
Expert
23rd May, 2015
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If the rumours carry any substance, it’s only a matter of time before Jason Gillespie becomes England’s new coach.

From the moment the open secret that was Peter Moores’ removal from his position became established fact, and for a time before come to think of it, the Yorkshire chief has been right in the heart of any conversation, and offered at the shortest odds, concerning the leadership of the England side.

Meat has been added to the bone with Gillespie holding talks with Andrew Strauss, the ECB’s director of England cricket, a couple of days ago and every useful indicator points to the former Australian seamer taking the reins.

There has been a trickle of imbecilic patriotism regarding Gillespie’s nationality and how it would be a sad day if the old enemy infiltrated Blighty’s ranks but thankfully, and rightly, this is confined to a particularly small minority.

Is it really of any relevance that a national team’s coach should come from said country? That’s rhetorical by the way so no need for an answer.

And it’s a bit rich given that both Duncan Fletcher and Andy Flower didn’t have birth certificates stating an English place of birth.

Those charged with making such decisions – Strauss this is – need only worry themselves with one criteria – can whoever is appointed do the job?

Gillespie’s coaching career to this point would suggest a positive answer to the above and I’ve yet to hear any criticism of his methods. Those involved with Yorkshire certainly speak very highly of him and he ticks all the necessary boxes.

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What is all too apparent is that whoever comes into the hot seat will have an almost clean slate to start from. I say almost because English cricket is never as straightforward as it should be but this is not 2011 with the team topping the world rankings.

In that regard there is the opportunity to mould a team in the new man’s image and there are the necessary tools to work with. Judging by some of the opinion doing the rounds, England might as well not bother turning up but that’s taking the doom and gloom angle too far.

Yes, in the limited overs formats there is significant work to be done. With a game that’s a decade out of date, Eoin Morgan’s side need an overhaul in both style of play and, more importantly, mindset.

The picture is somewhat brighter in the Test arena. By no means are they challenging at the summit but a lot of the reaction to drawing the recent series in the Caribbean was so far over the top as to be virtually ignorable.

Ninety minutes of poor batting in the second innings of the third Test and the system is on the verge of a breakdown? Not quite.

But for all that there is work to be done and the first Test against New Zealand, from where this is being written, has offered nothing to contradict this conclusion.

If nothing else, they’re short of a Test class spinner and a bit of variety in the seam bowling department. Criticism of Moeen Ali should be tempered to some degree as he is a batsman who bowls but his move down to number eight, with Ben Stokes shifting up to six, means he is on thinner ice than others.

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Stokes a couple of places higher opens the door for a spinner without their batting being of too much consequence. The only problem is there isn’t a spinner in the county game worthy of promotion.

The other cause for concern is the fourth seamer. Mark Wood looks promising but a quartet of right-armers, only one of which really swings the ball, lacks variation. Again, this isn’t a particularly easy conundrum to find an answer to.

So while the naysayers will believe Gillespie might be ill-advised to take on such a project – this is more of dig at the administration side of things – he wouldn’t be receiving a hospital pass.

There is generally a surge in optimism when a new coach comes into a sporting organisation and more than anything else, this could be the shot in the arm England need.

I reckon Gillespie will look good in a blue tracksuit.

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