Jason Neil Gillespie (born 19 April 1975) is an Australian cricket coach and former cricketer who has played all three formats of the game.

Jason Gillespie is a cricketer who plays for the Australia national cricket team. He has been part of the team since 1996 and is one of the most successful players. Jason Gillespie had a successful time with the team.

Jason Gillespie's main role on the team is as a bowler and a prolific right-arm bowler who has won many wickets for teams in both domestic and international cricket. He can also bat in the lower order and is a right-handed hitter. He is a brilliant outfield player and can set up anywhere on the ground. He is good with both his ground field and his catching.

Jason Gillespie plays for the Australian National Cricket Team in the ODI/T20/Test format. He represents the South Australian team in domestic cricket.

Jason Gillespie has taken 613 wickets, plays for the India National Cricket Team and is a successful player for the team.

Early & Personal Life

Gillespie is a paternal descendant of the Kamilaroi people of Indigenous Australians and later became the first recognized Aboriginal cricketer to become a Test cricketer.

Always approaching the game with single-minded determination and aggression, Gillespie was the bowler any captain would crave when the opposition was running away with the game. His ability to cast long spells and his uncanny talent for breaking partnerships were invaluable to both Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting, as they ensured Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne could rest appropriately and manage their workloads.

Gillespie is vegan and has criticized dairy farming and the use of leather balls. While coaching Yorkshire, Gillespie said of the dairy-sponsored club: 'Yes, they are a sponsor but that doesn't mean I approve of what they are doing. It's out of my control, as is the fact that cricket balls are made of leather".

Domestic Career

Gillespie made his debut for Australia in the 2007/08 season against Tasmania in a Pura Cup match. He formed a 250-run partnership with South Australian wicketkeeper Graham Manou, who made 190. Gillespie didn't stay out 118 as the innings wound down.

Gillespie celebrated his first top-flight domestic century while playing for Yorkshire on his 32nd birthday exactly a year later in a County Championship match against Surrey at The Oval. He hit an unbeaten 123 to set a record 9-wicket partnership for Yorkshire along with Tim Bresnan. The pair bet on 246 before Bresnan stumbled out of Nayan Doshi's bowling. Gillespie's 123 Not Out was also the highest score for Yorkshire by a No. 10 batsman.

International Career

The fast bowler made his Test debut against the West Indies in Sydney in 1996, posting 2/62 in the first innings. Nevertheless, it was concisely clear that Gillespie could form a potent new ball attack with Glenn McGrath.

With the emergence of Brett Lee, Australia soon realized that Gillespie could be a perfect counterpoint to McGrath's nagging accuracy and Lee's breathtaking pace, leading to the formation of a much-famous and hugely successful three-man pace attack featuring the genius of warn.

Gillespie made his One Day International debut against Sri Lanka in the Singer World Series in Colombo in August 1996 and his Test debut against the West Indies in Sydney in November 1996. He has also played at first-class level for South Australia, Yorkshire and Glamorgan, and was a 1995 AIS Australian Cricket Academy Scholar.

Batting

Glenn McGrath (61) and Gillespie (54*) shared a final wicket count of 114 against New Zealand at The Gabba in 2004, to the hilarity and appreciation of their teammates. It was the first time either of them had scored 50 points in either the Test or ODI versions of the game.

In the second Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong on 19 April 2006, Gillespie (201 not out) set the world record (on his 31st birthday) for the highest single score by a night watchman. This was his first prime century. He also shared a fourth wicket partnership of 320 carries with Michael Hussey.

Gillespie was honored for his double century in the first innings as man-of-the-match and he was also named man of the series for his effort, which included eight wickets with an 11.3 average. Due to injury, it was his last match in international cricket. As of 2021, Gillespie is the only Night Watchman to score a double century in a Test match.

Bowling

Gillespie took 259 wickets in 71 Tests (at an average of 26.13), making him Australia's sixth highest wicket-taker and giving him the 14th best bowling average for Australian bowlers to have taken over a hundred wickets.

Gillespie rarely dominated a Test series (most wickets he won in a series was 20), but he was a reliable support bowler for his more famous teammates Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne for several years. For his performances in 2004 he was named by the ICC in both the World Test XI and the ODI XI.

Injuries

He only played 52 of a possible 92 Tests from his debut to his ax during the 2005 Ashes series. Despite these problems, he was both accurate and economical.

At the 1999 Tour of Australia in Sri Lanka, he was involved in a disgusting outfield collision as he and Steve Waugh ran to make a catch. Waugh ran from infield to outfield while Gillespie ran in. Waugh dove for the ball, resulting in his nose and Gillespie's right leg being broken. The catch was not taken. Gillespie's career was cut short by a shoulder injury while fielding for South Australia, leading to his retirement.

Coaching Career

Gillespie became a manager in Zimbabwe in August 2010. He worked primarily with the MidWest Rhinos but also on "grassroots" activities to improve the performance of young players in Zimbabwe.

Gillespie was drafted as bowling coach for Indian Premier League side Kings XI Punjab after their opening game against the Pune Warriors in April 2011.

In November 2011, following a shake-up in the club's coaching system, he was appointed as Yorkshire first-team manager. In his first season with Yorkshire they were promoted from Division Two of the County Championship; in the second they became runners-up in the first division; and they won the title in 2014 and 2015 when he was one of the candidates to coach England. He returned to Australia after Yorkshire narrowly missed out on a third consecutive title in 2016.

In April 2015, Gillespie was appointed manager of the Adelaide Strikers team in the Big Bash League.

In July 2017, Gillespie was appointed interim head coach of the Papua New Guinea national team, replacing former New Zealand test player Dipak Patel.

Gillespie took over as Sussex head coach in 2018.

Gillespie was appointed as the new South Australia manager in August 2020.

In 2021, Gillespie was named an Australia Post Legend of Cricket.

Gillespie, the current manager of the Adelaide Strikers men's team, made his first-class debut for South Australia in 1995 and has played 71 Tests for Australia. The fast bowler took 259 wickets, with the highest score of 201 not failing. He also played 97 one-day international matches.

Rise to Glory

His finest hour came when he beat England 7 for 37 at Headingley and led the Aussies to a mammoth victory. However, as his career progressed, Gillespie and injuries became synonymous, forcing Speedster to slow down.

Despite recurring injuries (including a nasty run-in between himself and Steve Waugh in 1999), Gillespie managed to cling to his third pacer role. He liked Sachin Tendulkar and scalped him on many occasions.

With a sensible defense, Gillespie has been used as a night watchman on a number of occasions. He handled it admirably on most occasions, like the 26 he scored in Chennai in 2004, batting long alongside Damien Martyn who helped Australia to a draw, aided by rain that ravaged the entirety of Matchday 5 flushed.

The best was yet to come, however, as he fought his way to an unbeaten 201 against Bangladesh in 2008. This was indeed his first century in first-class cricket.