Sporting icons : Jason Gillespie - career highlights & video of this brilliant Aussie fast bowler

 

Jason Gillespie was born on April 19, 1975. He's an Australian former cricketer known for his prowess as a fast bowler. Gillespie was an integral part of the Australian cricket team during the late 1990s and early 2000s, forming a formidable bowling partnership with Glenn McGrath. One of his notable achievements was scoring a double century as a nightwatchman against Bangladesh in 2006, becoming the first nightwatchman in Test cricket history to do so. After retiring from professional cricket, Gillespie pursued a career in coaching, contributing his expertise to various teams around the world.

Jason Gillespie was renowned for his exceptional bowling skills, particularly his ability to swing the ball both ways at a lively pace. He possessed a smooth and rhythmic bowling action, generating significant pace and bounce off the pitch. Gillespie's accuracy and control were exemplary, allowing him to consistently trouble batsmen with his probing deliveries. He was adept at exploiting seam movement, often causing problems for batsmen in varying conditions. Additionally, Gillespie was known for his stamina and fitness, enabling him to maintain his high level of performance over long spells. Overall, his skillful bowling played a pivotal role in Australia's success during his time as a cricketer.

Jason Gillespie had an impressive career in both Test cricket and One Day Internationals (ODIs). Here are some of his key records:

**Test Cricket Records:**

- Matches: Gillespie played 71 Test matches for Australia.

- Wickets: He took a total of 259 wickets in Test cricket at an average of 26.13.

- Best Bowling Figures: Gillespie's best bowling figures in an innings were 7/37.

- Five-Wicket Hauls: He achieved 8 five-wicket hauls in Test cricket.

- Ten-Wicket Match Hauls: Gillespie managed to take 1 ten-wicket haul in a Test match.

- Batting: Gillespie was also a handy lower-order batsman, scoring 1,176 runs in Test cricket at an average of 18.73, including a memorable double century against Bangladesh.

**ODI Records:**

- Matches: Gillespie played 97 ODIs for Australia.

- Wickets: He picked up 142 wickets in ODIs at an average of 25.42.

- Best Bowling Figures: Gillespie's best bowling figures in an innings in ODIs were 5/22.

- Five-Wicket Hauls: He achieved 2 five-wicket hauls in ODIs.

- Economy Rate: Gillespie maintained an impressive economy rate of 4.56 runs per over in ODIs, showcasing his ability to control the flow of runs.

These records highlight Gillespie's significant contributions to Australian cricket, both as a wicket-taking bowler and a lower-order batsman. His consistency and skill made him a valuable asset to the Australian team across formats.

Jason Gillespie had a distinguished cricket career filled with numerous highlights. Here's a detailed overview:

1. Test Cricket:

   - Debut: Gillespie made his Test debut for Australia against the West Indies in 1996.

   - Bowling Records: He was known for his remarkable bowling performances, including several five-wicket hauls and ten-wicket match hauls.

   - Double Century: In 2006, Gillespie achieved a historic feat by scoring a double century (201*) against Bangladesh, becoming the first nightwatchman in Test cricket history to do so.

   - Ashes Success: Gillespie played a crucial role in multiple Ashes series victories for Australia, contributing with both bat and ball.

2. One Day Internationals (ODIs):

   - ODI Debut: Gillespie made his ODI debut in 1996 against Sri Lanka.

   - World Cup Triumph: He was part of the Australian squad that won the ICC Cricket World Cup in 1999.

   - Bowling Impact: Gillespie was known for his ability to pick up wickets consistently in ODIs, often providing breakthroughs for his team.

3. County Cricket:

   - Yorkshire: Gillespie had a successful stint with Yorkshire County Cricket Club, where he played as an overseas player and also served as captain.

   - Coaching Career: After retiring from playing cricket, Gillespie transitioned into coaching. He continued his association with Yorkshire as a coach before moving on to other coaching roles, including coaching Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League.

4. Awards and Recognition:

   - Wisden Cricketer of the Year: Gillespie was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 2006, recognizing his outstanding performances.

   - Australian Cricket Hall of Fame: In recognition of his contributions to Australian cricket, Gillespie was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.

Throughout his career, Jason Gillespie's dedication, skill, and sportsmanship made him a respected figure in the cricketing world.

In the below video  watch is brilliant boeling spell in India in 2004