Ashes Test 2: Chappell on Gillespie (1 December 1998)

1 December 1998

Ashes Test 2: Chappell on Gillespie

Ian Chappell

JASON Gillespie finished the job that had been started on Saturday by Glenn McGrath and Damien Fleming as England crashed to pace less than a week after being bamboozled by leg-spin.

Incredibly, the young paceman's five-wicket haul was his first in his own country. I doubt it will be the last time he harasses England.

The difference between Gillespie on day three and the previous evening was length. Where he attacked Graeme Hick early in his innings, bouncing him often and paying the penalty as he was twice hit for six, he pitched the ball up further and reaped a rich reward.

Hick finally edged a delivery of a similar length to the one that did for him in the first innings, showing Gillespie's bowling doesn't rely totally on brawn.

Gillespie has talent, and his pace worries the Englishmen - he destroyed them at Headingley in 1997 - but he is injury-prone.

It could be that he has to push so hard to be fast, his overworked body breaks down. That would be a pity; he combines well with McGrath and, like his pace partner, is a fast learner.

He first came into the Australian side during the 1996 World Cup, dispensing with his ponytail the moment he heard of his selection. He explained: "You don't see any international fast bowlers with a ponytail. I thought it might be a good idea to get rid of it if I wanted to stay around."

His third five-wicket Test haul showed he has recovered from his back problems and adjusted to the changes in his action. It also warned his opponents that he is back for the long haul.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)