'Jason Gillespie is a bit like Gambhir'- Ricky Ponting on Jason Gillespie's appointment as Pakistan's red-ball coach

Former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie has been appointed as Pakistan's red-ball coach. This decision has garnered interest from various quarters, including former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, who compared Gillespie and India's newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir.

Gillespie, a former teammate of Ponting, has built a reputation as a successful coach. His appointment comes at a crucial time for Pakistan cricket, following a disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup 2024.

The Pakistan Cricket Board's decision to bring in Gillespie is part of a larger restructuring effort aimed at improving the team's performance in the longer format of the game. 

Ponting expressed confidence in Gillespie's abilities as a coach. Ponting acknowledged the challenges that the former pacer might face in his new role but emphasized his former teammate's strengths. 

"Jason Gillespie is a bit like Gambhir. Pretty much everywhere he has been, his coaching record has been very very good. He will have some challenges I got no doubt about it. But he is a deep thinker and as I said, a quiet person that goes about it in his own way," the former said on the ICC Review.

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All of us old guys who have played together congratulated Jason Gillespie: Ricky Ponting

The former Australian captain also opened up on the recent changes in Pakistan's cricket and said the former Australian players have wished Gillespie on his new appointment. 

"We've got a few WhatsApp groups over the years, all of us old guys that have played together. So everyone congratulated him (Gillespie) and wished him luck in that role. And look, to be honest, I am not surprised at all by the amount of changes in that group. I know it is a different format but they had a very disappointing T20 World Cup. If you are not willing to make some changes, you're expecting similar results to come your way," he concluded.

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The Australian will have a big challenge in front of him looking at the packed schedule of the Men in Green. His first assignment will be a two-match Test series against Bangladesh starting on August 21 in Rawalpindi.