Gillespie to coach Adelaide alongside Tykes commitments

Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie has been confirmed as the new coach of Australian Big Bash League franchise Adelaide Strikers.
Yorkshire head coach Jason Gillespie during LV County Championship, Division One match at Edgbaston, Birmingham. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 15, 2013. See PA story CRICKET Warwickshire. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA WireYorkshire head coach Jason Gillespie during LV County Championship, Division One match at Edgbaston, Birmingham. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 15, 2013. See PA story CRICKET Warwickshire. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire
Yorkshire head coach Jason Gillespie during LV County Championship, Division One match at Edgbaston, Birmingham. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 15, 2013. See PA story CRICKET Warwickshire. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire

The 39-year-old, who led Yorkshire to the County Championship in 2014, will run the South Australian T20 franchise side in addition to his current position at Headingley. Gillespie has signed a two-year agreement with the Strikers and will take up the role in December, when the competition commences.

“I would like to place on record my gratitude to Yorkshire County Cricket Club for allowing me to coach in the Big Bash League,” said Gillespie.

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“I am looking forward to bringing back some knowledge and experiences to Yorkshire, which will improve our T20 cricket going forward.

“I am excited to be taking charge of my hometown team in the Adelaide Strikers. Their initial interest came a few weeks ago and after a few conversations I am pleased that we came to an agreement.

“The opportunity to coach and build on the Strikers recent success is a great challenge. They finished top of the regular standings last year, but missed out in the semi-final. Hopefully, we can build on that and push on later this year.

“The Big Bash is a wonderful concept. Watching from a far it has been very successful. The players’ have really bought into it and the support the tournament has had from Cricket Australia has been very positive. The crowds and interest from the Australian public has been phenomenal.”

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Gillespie has been given the blessing of the club and Chief Executive Mark Arthur believes the White Rose County will reap the benefits of him being involved in one of the strongest domestic T20 competitions in the world.

“I want to make it absolutely clear that Jason (Gillespie) is primarily our senior coach and he will join Adelaide Strikers with our blessing for a short period at the end of the year,” added Arthur.

“It will advance his own skill-set, which ultimately will benefit Yorkshire.

“Over the last 10 to 12 years we have underperformed in the T20 competition. This year we have made it a priority. We will be making a concerted effort to be amongst the elite.

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“Jason is a great guy and since he joined us his record has been unprecedented. We have the resource and talent to build on last year’s success. It should be an exciting summer ahead.”

The KFC T20 Big Bash League is Australia’s premier Twenty20 competition, which was established in 2011. The tournament features eight city-based franchises instead of the state teams which had participated previously. The 2015-16 season will commence in the middle of December with the final due to take place at the end of January 2016.

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