Former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie has been summonsed by Andrew Strauss to discuss the England coaching job.
On his first day as Director of Cricket, Strauss sacked England’s coach Peter Moores after a lack-lustre World Cup and West Indies tour.
On day two, Strauss told Kevin Pietersen to his face he wouldn’t be in the frame for the upcoming Ashes campaign at a time when the swash-buckling batsman was in the process of scoring a career-high 355 not out for Surrey.
Now Gillespie is in Strauss’ cross hairs for all the good reasons.
Gillespie is head coach of Yorkshire, taking the club from division two to first division champions in three seasons and on the way has shown Joe Root and Gary Ballance how to become quality Test batsmen.
But the 40-year-old Gillespie may be hard to prise away from Yorkshire, and especially if he’s one of the many former Test players from around the world who reckon Strauss’ decision over Pietersen was an Ashes disaster.
Gillespie’s thoughts on Pietersen have been kept under wraps for obvious reasons, but they may yet surface in the meeting with Strauss.
And may yet decide Gillespie’s immediate future.
Another Australian, Justin Langer, knocked back Staruss’ overtures last week, citing family reasons.
Besides Langer (44) is well-entrenched in his home state Western Australia, where he’s been so successful in four-dayers and limited overs,
A third Australian Tom Moody (49) is in the mix. He was a successful coach of Sri Lanka from 2005 to 2007 when he opted to stay more at home and coach Western Australia for three years.
Others in the running – Michael Vaughan (40), Gary Kirsten (47), Andy Flower (47), and England’s current assistant coach Paul Farbrace (47) who will take over for the two-Test series against the Black Caps, plus five ODIs, and one T20.
Overnight, Farbrace gave Gillespie a ringing endorsement.
“He’s a brilliant guy, a lovely fella, and he really has done a great job at Yorkshire.”
Vaughan isn’t a genuie contender with no coaching experience, although he will be a favourite son forever after captaining England to regain the Ashes in 2005, ending a 19-year drought.
South African Kirsten and Zimbabwean Flower have long coaching CVs, but it’s doubtful Strauss will look in their direction if Gillespie knocks back the offer.
It’s his to refuse.
Dizzy Tangles
Guest
Yippee !!! Dizzy didn't get the job!! He was the guy to put some mongrel in the poms and I'm glad we don't have to worry about that now . Thank you Straussy!!! May you work at your current position for many years to come! :)
JimmyB
Guest
He plays for Durham mate, same as Onions.
CW
Guest
Having an Aussie as England cricket coach. The old stuffed shirts that ran English cricket in the past would be squirming in their graves at the thought of having a "colonial" in charge of their team of gentlemen. Wonder what the English public are thinking?
CW
Guest
CW
Guest
Good points Jimmy. Have been watching Woods last couple of days. he looks okl. Who does he play for? I find interesting his strange habit of skipping sideways and bowling wide of the crease several balls every over. I suppose it keeps the batsmen on his toes, but also negates the LBW I would have thought.
colvin
Guest
Doctor, do you know what a fop is? I had to enquire when it was used on the Roar rugby section but now I know. Never too late to learn these things you see.
Bunratty c
Roar Rookie
:)
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
I think summoned is more correct,David. Summonsed means you are answerable in a court of law JGnot becoming the new England coach is not against the law Oh and WB I think you mean exponentially, but yes it might be expedient for both England and Gillespie. I'd hope he has carte blanche and support for his decisions Previous coaches have and look where England has ended up They certainly couldn't do worse
Worlds Biggest
Guest
For Australia's sake I hope he doesn't take the job. Reckon he would have a fair impact straight up. England are still a handy Test match team, they could improve expedientally under Gillespie.
jammel
Guest
Yep, if I were England, I'd be looking towards Onions and Wood, a lot more than Jordan/Stokes/Woakes as bowlers. Stokes will probably play. But he'll only ever be a fifth bowling option - behind Anderson + Broad + a third quick + Ali. That third quick position is vital for England - Onions and Wood would be preferred by me if I were an Englishman.
JimmyB
Guest
Alex, I'm talking about Test match cricket. Wood hasn't had a chance yet, but judges more knowledgable than you or I reckon that he is the real deal, I've not heard the same said about Jordan, quite the opposite in fact. Onions has done very well at international level and is performing well in county cricket, his stats are superior to Jordan's. I hope that Jordan and Stokes can develop their games, but at county level for the time being. P.s all coaches work within certain parameters, to suggest otherwise is just plain wrong.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Wood and Onions haven't displayed anything better than Jordan, and honestly in ODIs Jordan is their only remotely capable death bowler.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Dizzy would be crazy to accept this job, why would he want to coach with his hands tied behind his back by the administration regarding team selection. - Can't pick KP regardless of merit. - Cook is guaranteed the captaincy despite being mediocre. - Strauss has basically given the players a license to lose.
James Butcher
Guest
Back in the real world however...
BBA
Guest
Agree as someone following from afar what is really sadi is the lack of qualityin the candidates.
JimmyB
Guest
He's clearly a good coach, but it's a bit of a stretch to suggest that he has had anything to do with Root or Ballance's development as batsmen. I don't think Langer was ever really in contention as he is just too ridgey didge (sic) to coach England, whereas Gillespie is a confirmed Anglophile. Vaughan is not well liked by English cricket fans, regardless of 2005. He is the worst kind of gobsh1te, who jumps on every single bandwagon available. He has never coached in his life but talks as if he is Gods gift. In short, he would be an absolute disaster, but again he is unlikely to have actually been considered, he's just been mentioned because journalists love compiling lists. I hope Gillespie gets the job, simply because there isn't another viable option, which is quite a sad state of affairs. Also if he gets the gig, perhaps he can rediscover Broads mojo and have a hand in picking a proper third seamer, like a Wood or Onions, rather than a slipper who bowls like Jordan or Stokes who isn't up to it yet. There's a good amount of upheaval in English cricket at the moment, but I actually don't think things are anywhere near as bad as some people are making out. We shall find out soon enough.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Should tell Strauss to sod off. A smarmy process driven fool, who would be constantly meddling.