I'll be back...
Jason Gillespie on getting dropped, losing the Ashes and fighting back
Peter English
13-Dec-2005
Jason Gillespie on getting dropped, losing the Ashes and fighting back
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We still lost. I can't conjure up a win. There was a massive knee-jerk reaction by everyone. It's almost as if Australia were beaten five-zip. The media has spoken, Cricket Australia has talked about an overhaul of all aspects of Australian cricket. We lost the series 2-1 and at Edgbaston we were three runs away from winning. We didn't play well, changes were made, that's the way it goes. There are things we can work on, things that can be improved - we didn't bat, bowl or field well enough - but I'd hate to see sweeping changes. Australia have dominated for the past 10 years and it's like we're not good anymore. There's not a lot wrong.
How have you coped with the criticism?
I'm really disappointed. Some parts of the media thought my career was over, that I'm too old. I'm only 30. Six months to a year ago no one was saying anything and suddenly I'm the worst bowler on the planet. Don't write me off. It's premature. I'm more than happy to be criticised but to get shit-canned was surprising. It was harsh, basing it on a few games in England. I bowled badly in one game, yet for the last four of five years I'd been in the team for almost every match. One bad game and I was on the outer.
I'm really disappointed. Some parts of the media thought my career was over, that I'm too old. I'm only 30. Six months to a year ago no one was saying anything and suddenly I'm the worst bowler on the planet. Don't write me off. It's premature. I'm more than happy to be criticised but to get shit-canned was surprising. It was harsh, basing it on a few games in England. I bowled badly in one game, yet for the last four of five years I'd been in the team for almost every match. One bad game and I was on the outer.
Did you suffer from not playing enough first-class lead-up games in England?
We'd had no cricket for two months, a few net sessions and then we were into Twenty20, which is neither here nor there for me. The administration acknowledged the lead-up didn't work. That is not an excuse for why we played badly - we were out-played - but I only felt comfortable at the end of the one-dayers. By then people were hopping into me and Kasper [Mike Kasprowicz]. It was hard on Kasper. When there was talk of changes he was the guy but he didn't bowl badly.
We'd had no cricket for two months, a few net sessions and then we were into Twenty20, which is neither here nor there for me. The administration acknowledged the lead-up didn't work. That is not an excuse for why we played badly - we were out-played - but I only felt comfortable at the end of the one-dayers. By then people were hopping into me and Kasper [Mike Kasprowicz]. It was hard on Kasper. When there was talk of changes he was the guy but he didn't bowl badly.
How did you deal with being dropped?
I didn't want to mope: it wasn't in the best interest of the team and not what I wanted to portray. I wanted to admit that I wasn't playing at my best but I was still a member of the Australian cricket team and I was doing my best. I'd get asked the same questions about my bowling. "I wasn't bowling well, wasn't landing it in the right spot, it wasn't coming out as well as I would've liked." It would have been the easy option to say piss off - but no. You see a lot of sportspeople who accept the praise when they're doing well and tell people to nick off when they're not. I was struggling and it was difficult on a tour like the Ashes.
I didn't want to mope: it wasn't in the best interest of the team and not what I wanted to portray. I wanted to admit that I wasn't playing at my best but I was still a member of the Australian cricket team and I was doing my best. I'd get asked the same questions about my bowling. "I wasn't bowling well, wasn't landing it in the right spot, it wasn't coming out as well as I would've liked." It would have been the easy option to say piss off - but no. You see a lot of sportspeople who accept the praise when they're doing well and tell people to nick off when they're not. I was struggling and it was difficult on a tour like the Ashes.
How did you find the English crowds?
I joked to one journalist about getting abused and it was turned into a whingeing Aussies story. The crowds don't bother me and Australian crowds hop into other teams too. The worst are in New Zealand and South Africa where I think: "Why are you saying things like that?" In England they are taking the piss out of the players or themselves to get a laugh.
I joked to one journalist about getting abused and it was turned into a whingeing Aussies story. The crowds don't bother me and Australian crowds hop into other teams too. The worst are in New Zealand and South Africa where I think: "Why are you saying things like that?" In England they are taking the piss out of the players or themselves to get a laugh.
Have Australia developed enough young talent lately?
I'm concerned the Academy hasn't evolved like it should have over the past few years. It was a very important tool in the team's success but for the last couple of years it hasn't been doing its job. When it was in Adelaide it was the best in the business with Rod Marsh. Rod went to England and had success there, you don't have to be Einstein to work out things didn't go well [in Australia after he left]. I'm really passionate about the Academy and I think the current coaches will pick things up.
I'm concerned the Academy hasn't evolved like it should have over the past few years. It was a very important tool in the team's success but for the last couple of years it hasn't been doing its job. When it was in Adelaide it was the best in the business with Rod Marsh. Rod went to England and had success there, you don't have to be Einstein to work out things didn't go well [in Australia after he left]. I'm really passionate about the Academy and I think the current coaches will pick things up.
What's good about being away from the team?
People ask are you missing it and I am. But when you're not in the team there are other things I get to do like helping my pregnant wife, being with my daughter and seeing friends and family.
People ask are you missing it and I am. But when you're not in the team there are other things I get to do like helping my pregnant wife, being with my daughter and seeing friends and family.
Can you come back?
I was dropped from the one-day team for the Super Series when I'd just started to get going at the end of the ODI series in England. And with the Test stuff I'm right back at the end of the queue. I've played 69 Tests and been one of the best bowlers in Australia for the past four or five years. I still think I'm one of the best bowlers in Australia. I've just got to get fit and firing. You can't buy experience, as they say.
I was dropped from the one-day team for the Super Series when I'd just started to get going at the end of the ODI series in England. And with the Test stuff I'm right back at the end of the queue. I've played 69 Tests and been one of the best bowlers in Australia for the past four or five years. I still think I'm one of the best bowlers in Australia. I've just got to get fit and firing. You can't buy experience, as they say.
With 251 wickets you are now Australia's fifth-highest wicket-taker. How much does that mean to you?
One good thing about the Ashes was that I was able to pass one of my heroes Richie Benaud. As a kid I was a real cricket nuffy with stats and things and he was certainly a hero of mine.
One good thing about the Ashes was that I was able to pass one of my heroes Richie Benaud. As a kid I was a real cricket nuffy with stats and things and he was certainly a hero of mine.
What next?
My goal is 300 wickets but first I'd like to get another over in Test cricket. I've never really had goals before, or ones that I'd made public. Getting 300 is realistic. It would take 10 to 12 Tests and I think I can get through that. It's when, not if.
My goal is 300 wickets but first I'd like to get another over in Test cricket. I've never really had goals before, or ones that I'd made public. Getting 300 is realistic. It would take 10 to 12 Tests and I think I can get through that. It's when, not if.
Peter English is the Australasian editor of Cricinfo