Gillespie upbeat about making Test comeback

'My mind was wandering the whole tour [Ashes]' - Jason Gillespie © Getty Images

Jason Gillespie has backed himself to earn a spot in the Australian team set to tour South Africa. "I think I am a real show for the Test tour [of South Africa]," said Gillespie, who recently had an hour-long chat with Trevor Hohns, the national selection chairman.

Rubbishing the critics who cite his age as a reason to keep him out, Gillespie said, "It's funny ... I hear comments in the press that they are searching for a new generation of quicks yet they are picking guys that are older than me or the same age. That makes me laugh. Pidgey [Glenn McGrath] is 36. I'm not too old at 30. Kasper got picked again at 32. Andrew Bichel played his last game at 34. Age shouldn't come into it at all".

Expressing confidence about his form he said, "I feel I am bowling really well. I haven't bowled quite as well in the ING competition but the four-day competition I am really pleased how they are coming out in the four-day game. I know I am good enough to play Tests. It is only a matter of time".

Gillespie believes his experience of South African conditions - he took 22 wickets in six Tests at an average of 26- will be an asset and weigh in his favour. "I have been to South Africa two or three times before and I know what it needs to play Test cricket. I have played a few of them now." But he also added that he didn't see himself in the contention for the ODIs. "I am not getting my hopes up about selection. I have always said I was more of a chance to go for the Tests. I didn't think I was a chance for the one-dayers."

Gillespie has found support from Darren Lehmann, his former team-mate. "If Glenn [McGrath] doesn't go to South Africa Jason [Gillespie] is a must," Lehmann said. "He has been there twice before and done well. If they don't take him then I think it's the wrong mix. They need some experience there. Brett [Lee] has held up magnificently but if Glenn wasn't there you would need some experience."

Looking back on a disastrous Ashes series Gillespie believed he slipped in the mental department and admitted to a lack of focus. "If I had my time again I would think about the game more and pay attention to detail. I am not making any excuses but my mind was wandering the whole tour. My wife told me at the start of the tour we were going to have a baby and I know now I wasn't switched on to play cricket."

The Australian one-day side leave for South Africa on February 20 and the Test side will be selected at the end of the five-match ODI series.