Cricket: Gillespie is staying positive

May 28 2008 by Gareth Griffiths, Western Mail

AUSSIE paceman Jason Gillespie last night insisted he is enjoying his time at Glamorgan, despite the county’s one-day flop and a typically miserable start to the British summer.

Gillespie will once more be a spectator today at the Swalec Stadium as Glamorgan finish another disappointing Friends Provident Trophy campaign against the Somerset Sabres (noon start).

With the Welsh county rooted to the bottom of the south west group and already out of the competition following only one win in seven matches, the Dragons have opted to rest him as he recovers from a hamstring niggle, ahead of the next LV county championship game against Leicestershire which starts on Friday.

Gillespie has missed the second half of the one-day competition after it became apparent Glamorgan would not achieve quarter-final qualification, but the 33-year-old is insisting it is not all doom and gloom, despite two defeats at Swansea over the last week against Northamptonshire and Worcestershire.

“The one-day campaign has been one of missed opportunities,” said Gillespie.

“And the weather has played a part.

“But I think there have been as many positive as negatives.

“The guys’ endeavour has been outstanding and it is a pleasure to be a part of such a positive group.

“I have had a really good time and it has been a good challenge and a lot of fun.

“It has been trying the last couple of years for Glamorgan, but everyone is determined to do well this summer, and that has not changed.

“Before last week, it was an encouraging start to the championship and the boys applied themselves really well.

“There are some really talented cricketers at Glamorgan and I have been impressed with the bowling group.

“I am here to help these guys and hopefully I can play a small part in making them better cricketers.”

Gillespie has also been impressed with his new cricketing home with play officially starting at the new £9.4m Swalec Stadium.

The Cardiff ground has been handed the first Ashes Test match since the 33-year-old has arrived in Wales and the traditional moan came from Manchester last week about Old Trafford not having a Test there for four years, following England’s victory over New Zealand.

But Gillespie is under no illusions that the England and Wales Cricket Board have made the right decision to play the opening Ashes Test in Wales in July next year.

“It is hard to find a better place to stage a first Ashes Test,” said Gillespie.

“I think it will be a great occasion and hopefully Glamorgan cricket can benefit from it.

“They have the first Ashes Test and that is so important and the ground will be ready to go.

“It is a great place to play now and the Aussies themselves will love coming here.”

“It rivals any county on the circuit now for the facilities and I would go as far to say it is as good as anywhere you would find in the world.

“It is a lovely cricket ground to play at and hopefully in the Twenty20 you will see it quite full.

“And Gillespie is hoping that Welshman Simon Jones will be fit to bowl for England against his countryman.

Jones, who this week has criticised Glamorgan for only offering him a pay-as-you-play deal last winter which resulted in him moving to Worcestershire, has been impressive so far this summer on his return.

“As a cricket lover, it is great to see Simon back playing and hopefully he will be fit for the Ashes because the Australians will want to play against him,” said Gillespie.

“The Aussies want to perform against the best players and, when he is fit and firing, Jones is a very good Test bowler.

“He has had a few setbacks, but it would have made him stronger and hungrier.

“It is important he does not overdo it and I can’t imagine he will play every game.

“Worcestershire will probably use him smartly with the view to him getting his England spot back.”

And Gillespie has revealed how much the Aussies feared Jones in 2005.

“Everyone talked about how well Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison played, but I felt Simon Jones and Matthew Hoggard were the unsung heroes in 2005,” added Gillespie.

“They were outstanding. Hoggard was consistently getting early wickets and putting us on the back foot and Jones was ripping in afterwards.

“He would come on after about 30 overs and create havoc by getting the ball to move when it was getting older and that is a very good skill to have.”

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