Gillespie named Langer’s assistant for Sri Lanka T20s

Friday, 30 December 2016 01:14 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

ESPNCricinfo: Jason Gillespie will join Justin Langer as Australia’s interim coaching duo to oversee the three Twenty20 internationals against Sri Lanka that conflict with preparations for the Test tour of India.

Langer (Perth Scorchers) and Gillespie (Adelaide Strikers) are both coaches in the Big Bash League, and the team performance manager Pat Howard said he was hopeful they would duly be able to take a strong T20 mindset into the job while Darren Lehmann and David Saker are minding the Test side in the UAE and India.

Jason Gillespie recently stepped down as Yorkshire coach and currently coaches the Adelaide Strikers – Getty Images

“Jason has significant experience as a coach around the world and with his skill-set, we believe he and Justin will work well together,” Howard said. “With Jason’s appointment alongside Justin, it means that not only will we have two terrific home-grown coaches to oversee the side but also that we have two individuals who will be coming off the sharp end of the BBL season.

“It means they’ll be immersed in the T20 format ahead of the series which will hopefully help them to help us hit the ground running when the action gets underway.”

Gillespie, who has been a successful all-format coach of Yorkshire over the past five years, said he was particularly eager to work with Langer, a former Australia teammate.

“For me, the chance to be working with Justin Langer is terrific,” Gillespie said. “Of course he’s a friend and a former team-mate, but he’s also someone who’s had success in this form of the game and if I can learn anything from him and his approach then that would be great.

“I’m there to support and hopefully play my part in achieving some positive results for us and that is something that is important because Australia hasn’t had the success any of us would like in T20 cricket. A series like this is the ideal way for us to try and get better and refine our approach.

“With some players likely to be away in India it really will be a shop window for players from the BBL to showcase their skills, and to show the selectors and the Australian public what they can do. It’s a chance for those selectors to see how, in the case of any new players, they deal with international cricket.”

The three T20 matches are at the MCG on February 17, Kardinia Park in Geelong on February 19 and Adelaide Oval on February 22. The Adelaide match takes place the day before the start of the first Test in India.