One of my favourite cricketing stories is that of former fast bowler Jason Gillespie. Along with Glen McGrath, the new ball pair were the reason behind the success of the Australian team. Unfortunately, riddled with injuries, Gillespie played 52 of a possible 92 tests after his 96/97 debut.

Teamed with Glenn McGrath as the opening partnership, the pair dominated as the opening bowlers. Whilst McGrath was known for doing just enough with the ball, Gillespie was cited with doing too much having more play and miss than any other fast bowler. Gillespie very nearly didn’t have a long test career, he was involved in an outfield collision with Steve Waugh against Sri Lanka at Kandi in 1999. Whilst Waugh sustained a broken nose, the broken leg of Gillespie threatened his fast bowling career.

On his final Ashes tour of England, Gillespie was washed up. Unable to take wickets, he was a liability on the tour and dropped after the third test at Old Trafford. He was also dropped for the Australian home series against the West Indies. Gillespie went back to South Australia taking 40 wickets at an average of 21.3. However, due to injuries in the Australian team, he was selected for the two test series against Bangladesh. Coming in as night watchman, Gillespie scored 201 not out earning both player of the match and player of the series awards.

For the upcoming home Ashes series, Chairman of Selectors Andrew Hilditch phoned Gillespie to inform him his test career was over. Amazingly, Gillespie asked if the decision was based on his last performance – brilliant. What I love about Gillespie is when an Australian batsman makes a double century, they receive a phone call and tweet from him welcoming new members into the test double century club. Not only was Gillespie a pretty decent bowler earning a best of 7/37, he was a decent defensive batsman.