Who are we referring to?
None other than firebrand Australian, Jason Gillespie.
Gillespie is only the fifth nightwatchman to score a Test century:
Nasim-ul-Ghani (Pakistan) with 101 v England, Lord’s in
1962; Tony Mann (Australia) with 105 v India, Perth in 1977/78;
Syed Kirmani (India) with 101 not out v Australia, Mumbai in 1979/80;
and Mark Boucher (South Africa) with 125 v Zimbabwe, Harare in
1999/2000 were the others who previously attained the feat.
Born Jason Neil Gillespie on April 19, 1975 in the bohemian inner
Sydney suburb of Darlinghurst, he moved with his family to Adelaide
when he was 10 years old.
In Adelaide, his natural athleticism and easy pace helped him
progress quickly through the ranks -- culminating in national
Under-19 stint at the Cricket Academy.
Gillespie, who’s got Aboriginal heritage -- through his
paternal great-great-grandfather, became widely known when he
captained an Aboriginal team in a match to mark an increased effort
by the ACB to promote the sport in the athletically gifted indigenous
community.
Known for being a hard-working fire and brimstone-styled fast
bowler with a somewhat unconventional lifestyle, Gillespie sports
a long ponytail, named his daughter Sapphire and professes a liking
for rock music of the more raucous variety.
He is a refined world-class bowler, with one of the more efficient
shorter run-ups in the game, and an ability to bowl with the seam
so upright so often that he is able to move the ball either way
on all surfaces.
The lanky fast bowler’s dry-humoured modesty and whole-hearted
approach, even when things were not going his way, have made the
man a most popular player.
Behind his shy, often mono-syllabic public utterances lie the
sharp mind of an excellent and fiercely dedicated cricketer.
What’s ahead for him?
His goal he says is 300 Test wickets.
Getting it is realistic.
He’s now fitter and once again firing and like he says,
you can’t buy experience.
Following is Gillespie’s most rewarding analysis in Tests,
since his debut against West Indies at SCG in November 1996, plus
his full Test record:
5/54 v SA Port Elizabeth 1997.
7/37 v E Leeds 1997.
5/88 v E Perth 1998.
5/89 v WI Adelaide 2000.
6/40 v WI Melbourne 2000.
5/53 v E Lord’s 2001.
5/39 v WI Bourda 2003.
5/56 v I Nagpur 2004.
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