View Full Version : The Jason Gillespie story. Just how good COULD he have been?
apollo_creed
17 Apr 2006, 13:51
Jason Gillespie is arguably Australia's second best quick bowler in the last 20 years.
But my question and discussion point is, how good could this guy have been?
All the unfortunate injuries over the years couldn't of and haven't helped his bowling, but that aside he's still Australia's second best quick bowler of the last two decades.
But just how good could he have been without all the injuries?
It's amazing despite all the injuries he has suffered the brilliant bowler he has been in the last 5 or 6 years. Most bowlers would've drifted into obscurity with all of Jason's horrible injury problems, not Jason he kept fighting and remade himself into one of the best bowlers in the world.
But rewind 10 years or so, before all the injuries Jason Gillespie was a quick bowler.
Brett Lee's pace minus his line, length and cricket brain.
He also got the ball to do things, science and logic couldn't explain.
Zip and exaggerated bounce are two terms which immeaditely come to mind.
I believe, without the injuries not only would Jason have played 100+ tests by now, and have 400 or so wickets he'd also be regarded as one of the best quick bowlers to play the game.
He'd probably be regarded in the second tier of great quick bowlers now, but I can't help but wonder just how good he could have been.
The injuries forced him to reinvent himself as a bowler, and that couldn't have been easy.
Well done to him on a great career so far, and here's hoping he can get to 300. His dedication, committment and unwillingness to succumb to adversity have been an inspiration to all.
Great bowler. Great person.
And lets hope he's playing come the Ashes in 6 months or so time to put things right.
Squizza
17 Apr 2006, 13:55
Wait...so he was injured?
Richo83
17 Apr 2006, 14:02
100% agree with the greatness call and his injuries have hampered him alot. Its scary how good he could have been if he hadn't have ran into Steven, among other things.
I think Gillespie if he gets back to the form he was 2-3 years back, could take the mantle of the 2nd best fast bowler of the past 20 years outright. McDermott, Hughes or Alderman could challenge him, but they didn't have the injuries Gillespie had (although Alderman had a few).
Lets hope he can stand up in the series that matters. Hasn't really done that yet, unlike McGrath.
Wait...so he was injured?
The Steve Waugh Collision.
Power21
17 Apr 2006, 15:00
The Steve Waugh Collision.
Plus major back problems which caused him to change his action completly. Plus other niggles here and there.
Grimreepah
17 Apr 2006, 15:09
Jason Gillespie has been fantastic for Australia. It was so disappointing that so many people had written him off after all he had done, and I was just praying that he would get given another go to prove them wrong.
And I might add that he handled himself with the utmost of dignity during his hiatus. Could have spat the dummy like Martyn, but Gillespie has got a good perspective on life and is very down to earth
Jason Gillespie - you are a tremendous Australian.
linger_isgod
17 Apr 2006, 15:57
Was never Brett Lee's pace.
Anyways, think his record would be slightly better, but I think in general he'd just have more wickets and more games. He's learnt to work with what he's got, and been a pretty smart bowler as a result.
apollo_creed
17 Apr 2006, 16:12
He reguarly bowled at 145kph earlier in his career on average.
What Brett Lee bowls now.
So yes, he did.
Learn cricket son.
Grimreepah
17 Apr 2006, 16:18
He reguarly bowled at 145kph earlier in his career on average.
That's my recollection too. Could get up to 150 on the odd occaison.
linger_isgod
17 Apr 2006, 16:27
He reguarly bowled at 145kph earlier in his career on average.
What Brett Lee bowls now.
So yes, he did.
Learn cricket son.
Ian Healy talked about how one spell (tour game in 97 ashes) he kept to from Gillespie was the fastest he ever had.
However, I took it as though you meant he could bowl at the top pace of Lee (150+km/h), while I believe that he probably bowled at Lee's stock pace in Tests (145, peaking 148) - rather than what he does in his explosive OD bursts. Also, it's easy to talk about the past with regards to pace, when the claim is impossible to back up because the use of speedometers were not widespread at the time.
*note - explosive doesn't mean effectiveness necessarily when referring to Lee, just in terms of him bowling his short quick spells
Cooldude
17 Apr 2006, 16:42
Dizzy back in 00-02 could still bowl high 140s
One of the most underrated quicks for a long time because he's a private man who doesn't do justice with media interviews and doesn't put himself in the limelight. Not flashy, nothing extravagent, just does his job all the time
As a result the media doesn't rate him anywhere near as high as he should. Even when he was our best bowler on the Indian tour where we won, another quick who wasn't playing a single Test got on the papers more than he did
One of the very best quicks we've ever produced. Had everything
utility
17 Apr 2006, 16:43
Like Bruce Reid injuries limited their careers that could have been absolutely top shelf.
Grimreepah
17 Apr 2006, 16:44
Like Bruce Reid injuries limited their careers that could have been absolutely top shelf.
one difference - Gillespie still has the chance to bring it to fruition.
spell_check
17 Apr 2006, 17:27
one difference - Gillespie still has the chance to bring it to fruition.
And good luck to him. He deserves more than the injuries he has had in the past.
One thing I noticed before the Ashes (in fact for a couple of seasons) is the amount of chances gone begging when he bowled. I'm talking about the number of edges that fell short of the slip fielders, the number of dropped catches when he was bowling, unplayable balls that went agonisingly close to the stumps - he could have easily got many more wickets. Yes, this sort of stuff happens to all bowlers, but I can't recall this kind of stuff happening to McGrath or Lee too often the way it happened to Gillespie.
Grimreepah
17 Apr 2006, 17:32
And good luck to him. He deserves more than the injuries he has had in the past.
One thing I noticed before the Ashes (in fact for a couple of seasons) is the amount of chances gone begging when he bowled. I'm talking about the number of edges that fell short of the slip fielders, the number of dropped catches when he was bowling, unplayable balls that went agonisingly close to the stumps - he could have easily got many more wickets. Yes, this sort of stuff happens to all bowlers, but I can't recall this kind of stuff happening to McGrath or Lee too often the way it happened to Gillespie.
Steve Waugh did say that Gillespie was the unluckiest bowler in the team (when he was playing).
spell_check
17 Apr 2006, 17:35
Yeah. I can't even think of another bowler who has been more unlucky.
Grimwood
17 Apr 2006, 18:20
I think it's a bit of a shame to go on about "what might have been" when a guy's already had a fantastic career but having recently seen a clip of Dizzy's 7/37 against England I admit it's hard not to wonder.
raikkonen
18 Apr 2006, 14:37
I think the question we should be asking is how good can he be? He still has a good 3-4 years in him yet, is in very good form at the moment. There is an article on cricket.com.au that says that Phil Jaques thinks he has the potential to make a hundred this innings. God I hope so!! Would that keep S. Clark out of the team leaving the line up as McGrath, Lee, Gillespie, warne. Almost 1700 test wickets there if not more.
Yep, a champion.
Reminds me of Pollock because of how he had to change his approach to bowling and both have done it well.
Good cricket brain is Jason.
dan warna
18 Apr 2006, 14:56
bruce reid, fantastic bowler struck down with crippling injuries, should have had at least 50 to 80 tests if not for injuries.
paul reiffel was badly treated by the selectors, still has a quality record to be proud of and was every bit the bowling all rounder.
jokes aside mcgill would have been a quality legspinner with a 60 to 80 test career in almost any other era in almost any other country
Grimreepah
18 Apr 2006, 15:32
jokes aside mcgill would have been a quality legspinner with a 60 to 80 test career in almost any other era in almost any other country
What jokes? I think everyone would agree with you. In fact considering he's playing his 40th Test Match, and that he's taken 191 wickets, I'd say you're selling him short.
Minotaur
18 Apr 2006, 15:39
I read a theory somewhere that Gillespie had so many close misses (compared to say McGrath) over his career because he was frequently bowling half a a length too short.
I agree with the intial call of the second best Oz quick over the last 20 years. I sometimes wonder though whether McDermott is given his due recognition.
RoosterLad
18 Apr 2006, 15:39
Yes MacGill is a very good leg spinner, the likes of South Africa and England would cream their undies if they had him in their side.
Dizzy has another 50, not only is he a fantastic bowler, but he is a handy batsman who can hold down one end which stops collapses.
beatnik
18 Apr 2006, 15:50
Yep, a champion.
Reminds me of Pollock because of how he had to change his approach to bowling and both have done it well.
Good cricket brain is Jason.
side note: don't mean to be glib but this is the first unbiased thing I have ever seen you post F/D...for the record I agree Pollock is a champion and world-class on his day (though not as often now as in previous years)
I am very glad to see Dizzy doing well - he's on a hiding to nothing playing Bangers because if he will be criticised if he fails and understated if he succeeds...has done very well with ball and bat
not sure how he will go against the Poms but I would think quite well - he certainly was tartgeted by English bats and then scapegoated by a suddenly uncertain selection panel
I am proud to sat I have consistenly nominated The Dizz as worthy of another burst in Test cricket and my fingers are crossed that he continues his form resurgence into the Ashes (goodness knows our bowling stocks have looked decidely shaky of late)
peace
Blue Red and Gold
18 Apr 2006, 16:03
And good luck to him. He deserves more than the injuries he has had in the past.
One thing I noticed before the Ashes (in fact for a couple of seasons) is the amount of chances gone begging when he bowled. I'm talking about the number of edges that fell short of the slip fielders, the number of dropped catches when he was bowling, unplayable balls that went agonisingly close to the stumps - he could have easily got many more wickets. Yes, this sort of stuff happens to all bowlers, but I can't recall this kind of stuff happening to McGrath or Lee too often the way it happened to Gillespie.
I always felt this was the case aswell, he would work his arse off at one end while the bowler at the other end would seem to always get the luck.
Thats cricket I spose.
Nel Mangle
18 Apr 2006, 17:10
I am proud to sat I have consistenly nominated The Dizz as worthy of another burst in Test cricket and my fingers are crossed that he continues his form resurgence into the Ashes (goodness knows our bowling stocks have looked decidely shaky of late)
peace
all the posters around here trashed gillespie when he was getting spanked in the ashes .Now he has a decent turn out against f'ckin bangladesh its like "oooohhh he is back to his best".
lmao ,hypocrites .
you'll be all bagging him again soon enough .
linger_isgod
18 Apr 2006, 17:23
you'll be all bagging him again soon enough . It IS bigfooty.
GoSydneySwans
18 Apr 2006, 17:28
all the posters around here trashed gillespie when he was getting spanked in the ashes .Now he has a decent turn out against f'ckin bangladesh its like "oooohhh he is back to his best".
lmao ,hypocrites .
you'll be all bagging him again soon enough .
Find one post where I bagged him... I'll admit some did jump the anti-Diz bandwagon, but you'll find a lot of the people that are supporting him now weren't actually bagging him during the Ashes.
Grimreepah
18 Apr 2006, 18:19
all the posters around here trashed gillespie when he was getting spanked in the ashes .Now he has a decent turn out against f'ckin bangladesh its like "oooohhh he is back to his best".
lmao ,hypocrites .
you'll be all bagging him again soon enough .
Just because a few posters wrote him off, doesn't mean everyone did. You should have enough intelligence to not have to lump everyone into the same category. I have always been a Gillespie fan, and I thought he should have been recalled a long time ago. If you don't believe me just look at the official Stuart Clark Thread.
Browney
18 Apr 2006, 18:28
Gillespie has been a fantastic bowler for Australia over the last decade, just lost his way in the Ashes, to an impressive English team. He's a much better bowler than Lee, mainly because he has a cricketers brain unlike Lee. He has very good variation, and I believe provides more to the Australian team that Brett Lee does, please bring him back into the team just in time for the Ashes please :D On his way to a good Ton as well, even if it is against Bangladesh.
beatnik
18 Apr 2006, 19:47
all the posters around here trashed gillespie when he was getting spanked in the ashes .Now he has a decent turn out against f'ckin bangladesh its like "oooohhh he is back to his best".
lmao ,hypocrites .
you'll be all bagging him again soon enough .
hah hah...thanks for your input Kermit
a) I am unashamedly stoked for him...why? because he had a massive fall from grace and he has done nothing but work hard and set his sights on making the team - if you can't appreciate the feel-good factor of this story then you certainly don't appreciate Test cricket and are probably mean to children, old people and puppy dogs
b) dizzy getting a ton against any opposition is awesome...getting it on a dry pitch in subcontinent when recognised batsmen have failed is off the richter...get the bug out of your butt, bugbutt
c) check my posts, i have been in his corner all summer so of course I'm going to use this opportunity to rub your nose in it ya non-believer
d) and last but not least I noticed that you left out the bit of my post that predicted such a comment from a cheesegrater like you:
he's on a hiding to nothing playing Bangers because if he will be criticised if he fails and understated if he succeeds
peace
Grimreepah
19 Apr 2006, 17:29
Is this Gillespie's finest moment?
How would Gillespie rate a double ton along all of his bowling achievements?
Browney
19 Apr 2006, 17:31
Is this Gillespie's finest moment?
How would Gillespie rate a double ton along all of his bowling achievements?
You'd have to think if he got a ten fa in the upcoming ashes series, he would rate that higher. But from his previous performances, youd have to think it was right up there.