Jason Gilespie set to end 5 year coaching stint with Yorkshire

Jason Gillespie, the former Australian fast bowler will end his coaching stint with Yorkshire, the county has confirmed. The former Aussie speedster was involved with the team for 5 years. The 41-year-old who had led the Yorkshire county team from the 2nd division to consecutive County Championship titles is now all set to return to his native Australia.

"Jason feels the close season is an appropriate time to part company," a Yorkshire statement said. Currently the head coach of Adelaide Strikers in the KFC Big Bash League, Gillespie decided it was the right time leave Headingley after his wife Anna and his four children returned to Australia last month.

In a press release issued on Monday, the Yorkshire County Club thanked Gillespie for his services at the club and for making Yorkshire a far more superior team in the recent years.

Since his appointment in 2011, Gillespie has been immensely successful as a coach for Yorkshire where he lost only 5 out of 76 matches. Yorkshire is currently placed 2nd in the table just behind Middlesex on the division one County Championships point table.

Gillespie also had a successful first year with Adelaide Strikers in last year’s BBL where his side finished at the top of the table in the group stage but lost in the semi-final to eventual winners Sydney Thunder.

A veteran of Australian cricket who took 259 wickets in his Test career was linked to the Australian Cricket Team bowling coach role after the role was vacated by Craig McDermott following their disappointing performance in the World T20 in India.

While current Australian coach Darren Lehmann did reach out to Gillespie to gauge his interest in the position, the former fast bowler ruled out the possibilities of him becoming the bowling coach of Australia.

"I was made aware that Darren (Lehmann) referred to me by name in a radio interview last month," Gillespie said in the month of May. "It appears from media speculation that I am someone that Darren and Cricket Australia wish to speak to.

"At this point in time, I haven't had a conversation with Darren about any role with Cricket Australia and I have not applied for any role with Cricket Australia.

"I want to make it clear that I am happy in my role with Yorkshire County Cricket Club and Adelaide Strikers," he said.

It will be interesting to see whether after resigning from Yorkshire’s post, Gillespie gives an afterthought for the role of Australia’s bowling coach. Gillespie who represented Australia for 10 years was a vital member of the Australian outfit during that time and captured 259 wickets from 71 Tests. He is also the only nightwatchman to register a double century in Test cricket.