Gary kirsten(L) Jason Gillespie(R). Pic Credits: X

ICC T20 World Cup 2024: Jason Gillespie Keen To Establish Pakistan’s Own Style Of Cricket Ahead Of His Tenure As Test Coach After T20 Debacle

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Pakistan’s newly appointed red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie strongly feels that the players who are centrally contracted by the cricket board should prioritise country instead of going the franchise way. Though Jason Gillespie firmly believes that playing in T20 leagues around the world is going to help the players get the much-needed experience and exposure, it should not come at the expense of playing for Pakistan.

Jason Gillespie has never coached an international side full-time before. He’s from the right country, of course – Pakistan’s predilection for Australians in leadership positions is legendary by now. And he has only ever spent extended periods of time with a side – he has never served as a full-time coach of a team for fewer than two seasons – and that appears to have shaped his views on how coaching success is defined.

Pakistan’s musical chairs with Chairmans and coaches before Jason Gillespie takes over.

Jason Gillespie could scarcely have described the last few years in Pakistan cricket more pithily. Since December 2022, the PCB has had five chairmen. In that period, Saqlain Mushtaq, Grant Bradburn, Mickey Arthur, Mohammad Hafeez and Azhar Mahmood all served as either team director or head coach. Batting and bowling coaches came and went, and half a dozen chief selectors picked at least one squad.

The results in Test cricket have taken the sharpest nose dive; Since the start of 2022, Pakistan have won just three and lost eight of 15, with all three wins coming against Sri Lanka. They have not won a home Test in more than three years. Pakistan are coming off a group stage exit in 2024 T20 World Cup.

After Jason Gillespie has taken over the reigns of red ball cricket in test for Pakistan, the former Australian pacer has spoken about his vision regarding and with the Pakistan cricket team.

Jason Gillespie keen to establish Pakistan’s own style of cricket ahead of his tenure as Test coach

Pakistan’s Test coach Jason Gillespie wants the players to come up with their own style of cricket ahead of beginning his tenure. The former Australian speedster stated that his job is to help players show the direction on how that method can be deployed well.

Jason Gillespie will start his tenure with the two-Test series against Bangladesh, beginning on August 21 in Rawalpindi. The 49-year-old has a busy season ahead, with England visiting for three Tests in October, followed by the series against South Africa and West Indies.

Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Jason Gillespie said he doesn’t want to impose his style of cricket on the players and wants an approach that the fans will relish watching. He explained:

“I want both the Pakistan public and the media to be able to watch us play and go. Yes, this is the style of cricket Pakistan are playing.’ The simple example is England. No one’s left in any doubt how England will play. Everyone’s pretty clear how Australia go about their work. That’s all I’m looking for from our team. I think it’s really important that, as a coach, I don’t just come in and say, ‘This is how we are going to play’.”

“It’s got to come from the players. My role is to support that and how I can help us go about that in the best and most effective way.”

The Sydney-born former cricketer hasn’t coached an international side, but had a successful stint with Yorkshire, leading them to successive first-division titles in 2014 and 2015. He was also associated with the Adelaide Strikers and state team South Australia.

Jason Gillespie on PCB denying NOC for overseas leagues to players

With PCB recently denying NOC to the all-format players to keep them fit for international cricket, Gillespie suggested that he agrees with the board’s decision. He elaborated:

“Players are centrally contracted and getting compensated really well. We have the right to be able to say, ‘Look, in this situation, we need you to rest or have some downtime to give your body and mind a break, be ready for the next challenge for Pakistan.’ We want players to go and play in these leagues and have these great experiences.”

“But if we believe it’s going to be to the detriment of representing Pakistan in an upcoming series, then we’ll have a discussion and have a decision to make. These are honest and difficult conversations. Ultimately, we’re tasked with doing what’s right by Pakistan cricket.”

Pakistan are coming off a group-stage exit in the T20 World Cup 2024. Jason Gillespie is on his way to the National Stadium, in a bulletproof van charging through Karachi’s bustling evening traffic, flanked by an armed police escort, where Pakistan Shaheens are to be put through their paces for four days. The training camp is in preparation for their (currently ongoing) tour of Darwin, Australia, where they play a pair of practice games against a Bangladesh A side ahead of the Bangladesh senior squad’s visit to Pakistan for two Test matches in August.

Jason Gillespie’s job here is rather different from the ones he quit a year early to accept: a nine-year stint with Adelaide Strikers in the BBL, and four years with the state team, South Australia and hopes to take Pakistan to a better place in test cricket.

Also Read: IND vs ENG: “Side Arm Specialists In India Need To Work Hard To Prepare Batters For Tough Times”- Abhishek Jain Gives His Invaluable Insights

 

 


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