The South Australian Cricket Association on Wednesday appointed the former pacer Jason Gillespie as the head coach. He will be the coach of the side in the two premier domestic tournaments – the One-Day Cup and the Sheffield Shield.
Gillespie is currently the head coach of Sussex and he will leave that position to occupy the position left unoccupied by Jamie Siddons at South Australia. Jamie split ways with South Australia following the team’s bottom-placed finish in the 2019-20 season.
South Australia lost two Shield finals against Victoria, under Siddons in 2015-16 and 2016-17, and ended last in the three following seasons.
“I’m deeply honoured to be afforded the opportunity to coach the South Australian cricket team. The chance to work with the players, coaches and off-field team at the SACA is very exciting. Team SACA is something I’m very much looking forward to being a part of.” Gillespie said of his appointment.
Gillespie is one of South Australia’s most prolific bowlers with 54 Sheffield Shield matches and 71 Tests to his name.
Gillespie’s nomination conveys homogeneity to cricket in South Australia as he is also the head coach of Adelaide Strikers – the BBL side from the state. To top it, Gillespie brings with him a glowing coaching CV, having led English county side Yorkshire to the promotion and then back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015 before earning the Strikers their maiden BBL title wins in 2018.
SACA Chief Executive Keith Bradshaw is assured that the right person has been selected for the role after an extensive process.
“The South Australian men’s head coaching role is the most important in South Australian cricket, and we know that Jason is the right person to invigorate our program and push it forward. He is a proud South Australian with a phenomenal coaching resume behind him, we have seen how he has worked with the Strikers, leading them to their first title, and I know Jason will give it his all to steer the Redbacks in the right direction” SACA Chief Executive Keith Bradshaw said.
“We acknowledge that Jason will be in England until October as he is committed to his role with Sussex until the end of their season. This is one of the reasons we are delighted to have Jason on board. He is a quality person, once he starts something he is fully committed.” he added.
