Australia eye Jason Gillespie to fill bowling coach void

Sources close to Cricket Australia have confirmed that former Australia paceman Jason Gillespie is a front-runner for the job of bowling coach for Australia. The reports come after Gillespie impressed one and all with his coaching prowess with English county side Yorkshire. The coaching role was left open for grabs when former Aussie pacer Craig McDermott stepped down from the role of Australia bowling coach shortly after the conclusion of the World T20.

Darren Lehmann, the current coach of the Australian team has been an avid fan of Gillespie. In addition, Lehmann has also added that he would love to see his former teammate back into the fold, only this time around, as a coach.

Adam Griffith, the bowling coach of Western Australia and Allan Donald, the former South African pace legend are currently working with the Aussies. Their immediate assignment will be the Tri-nation series in the Caribbean before Gillespie takes over the role on a full-time basis. Donald and Griffith will also be serving as the interim coaches for the Sri Lankan tour as well. Gillespie, who is currently coaching Yorkshire, is set be installed as Australia’s permanent bowling coach with discussions now at an “advanced level”, according to The Age.

The 41-year old Gillespie was expected to take over from Peter Moores when the latter was sacked following the disastrous World Cup campaign. However, despite amazing reviews from Nasser Hussain and others, Gillespie missed out as Trevor Bayliss was eventually appointed as coach.

“We’re speaking with a number of candidates but by no means is anything confirmed,” a Cricket Australia spokesperson told cricket.com.au on Tuesday (May 24). “We’ll look to make an announcement as soon as the process is complete, with the aim to have the coaching team finalised, at latest, by the start of the 2016-17 Australian summer.”

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“There is still a lot to do at Yorkshire and I solely want to concentrate on helping this team win cricket matches,” Gillespie told Yorkshire’s official website last month. “You don’t rule out opportunities in the future. It’s whether you feel like you can make a difference in any job that comes available.”

Although Andrew Griffith would enjoy a full-time role with the Australian side, there are a few candidates in the picture as well. Other candidates for the role include former Australian pacemen Ryan Harris and Andy Bichel, while Shane Bond, the ex-New Zealand quick, has also been reportedly sounded out.

“It has been a goal of mine and something that I strive for. But firstly I need to do a good job in the Caribbean, so that is what I am focusing on,” Griffith said.