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.
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 With a game that’s a decade out of date, Eoin Morgan’s side need an overhaul in both style of play and, more importantly, mindset.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.
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.
Alec Swann
Expert
Frederick You're probably right. Reading it back, the point I was trying to make hasn't been made particularly well. My issue was with a few comments stating that it was wrong that an Australian was going to take charge. That they're foreign was okay but just not Australian. That is ridiculous. I'd like international cricket to be one country's best against another but those days are long gone.
Alec Swann
Expert
Scuba Please change every reference to 'Jason Gillespie' in the article and replace it with 'Trevor Bayliss'! Job done.
Brains of a bimbo (Atgm)
Guest
Trevor bayliss it is!
Frederick
Guest
"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". Ludicrous faux sophistication there, Alec. There's nothing imbecilic about the idea that international cricket is supposed to be the best of one country against the best of another - and that goes for coaching staff as well as players. I can't imagine many Aussies would be happy with a Pom in charge of the Baggy Greens. It would seem very odd indeed.
JimmyB
Guest
Warney is not well loved in the UK.
CW
Guest
We have all jumped the gun Alec. Word is that Dizzy has knocked back the role. It has now been offered to former NSW cricket coach Trevor Bayliss. Why are the Poms so hell bent on getting an Aussie for the job? Among those names also mooted for the role have been Justin Langer and Tom Moody.
Scuba
Guest
Wrong Australian Alec, according to the latest press reports.
Phil O'Donovan
Guest
Comments like this are more entertaining than reading the "funny pages"
The Bush
Roar Guru
The KIwis (in rugby) have long had to put up with just about every major team being coached by a New Zealander. It is somewhat inevitable that in the professional world teams are going to be coached by people who come from the dominant cricketing nations. Having said that, it is usually a reflection of the state of the game in a major country like England (or in Rugby - Australia), that they aren't producing their own coaches up to the correct standard.
Kaks
Roar Guru
You are right Chris, they are probably the worst media for that kind of behaviour. However when you follow a test match on something like BBC sports live feed and you see that fans reactions as well as the 'experts' reaction, you realise they arent far off. I have been following the live feed for the England vs NZ test. One minute Cook is a terrible player and captain and should be sacked/hung/lynched. One century later and he is the best ever English Batsman who deserves his spot It is actually quite comical
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Aussies have long been well loved in England, dating from the likes of Billy Murdoch and Spofforth, through McDonald, Braddles, Benaud up to young Warney. Gillespie is just the latest example. We Aussie fans seem to take this thing a lot more personally for some reason.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
It often feels a bit weird when this sort of situation comes up, but when it comes to a coaching career, that's exactly what it is, a career, and it's about taking the best opportunities. It's hard to think, when these situations come up, and a coach is coaching against the place where they are from, that there aren't some sort of mixed loyalties and all that which make it hard to be 100% committed, and from the other side it feels almost like they are traitors trying to coach the enemy to victory, but this isn't battle, this is sport, and it's a career, and while there are some people who are very loyal and wouldn't consider coaching anyone but the club, state, nation they played for, there is nothing at all wrong with not being like that. Jason Gillespie basically didn't get any decent opportunities to coach in Australia, but got the chance in England and did well, now he's got the chance, potentially to coach England. Good on him. Sure, as an Aussie I hope that, while doing a really good job, he's not able to get them across the line against Australia.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
It might be more the media than the fans you are referring to there. The English media is certainly known to be one of the worst when it comes to things like that!
Kaks
Roar Guru
hahahah always the case is'nt it However i didnt mean that you dont support your team. I meant that if a player puts in one bad performance then he is the worst player to have ever played cricket and should not only be dropped, but be shipped to small island nation so that no one can even hear his name be said again. Then if that same player puts in a good performance the next day he is immediately lauded as the best player in the world and everyone knew he would come good. Must be an English thing, as its the same in football and rugby as well ;)
Rich_UK
Guest
1) The people who run the game in England stink and only protect their old chums. Hell people who arent the coach tell you who you are allowed to pick! 2) The English media stinks and will stick the knife in given the first chance. 3) The fickle fans stink, but you can forgive them for that as they have to deal with the first two points while their team is a shambles. ----- Fair point re the English media and the ECB old boys but one thing you can't accuse English cricket fans of is being fickle. We're the best cricket fans in the world, always travel and back our team through thick and thin! On the other hand Aussie cricket fans!! ;)
jamesb
Guest
Where's Jason Gillespie and his articles?
poida
Guest
Shoot me now!
JJ
Guest
"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." I would argue it's slightly higher than a small minority. Only an English man would write that
Kaks
Roar Guru
JP Pietersen is a terrible cricketer, most likely due to the fact that he is a Rugby player for South Africa Kevin 'KP' Pietersen on the other hand is a great player that i for one am happy is not in the England team - as an Australian of course. I imagine Alec will not mention this though, especially since his brother has nothing but fine words to say about him.
fp11
Guest
Who is JP mate???