Gillespie to coach Barramundis

FORMER Australia fast-bowler Jason Gillespie, pictured, is set to take the coaching reins of Papua New Guinea on an interim basis as the cricketing nation pushes for 2019 World Cup qualification.
Cricket PNG chief executive Greg Campbell confirmed this week that Gillespie, 42, initially appointed as a consultant on a 12-month term, would fill in as interim head coach of the national side following the departure of former mentor Dipak Patel.
Patel, a former New Zealand test player, left his role after negotiations with CPNG to renew his contract which would expire next month broke down.
The Barramundis are set for a busy few months of cricket with a series of games against Australia’s national performance squad, the Australian Indigenous team and a Queensland XI next month, before hosting Scotland for two crucial matches in October.
“I’m really excited about it, as much to have another cricketing experience with another team and another country,” Gillespie, who formerly coach English county sides Yorkshire and Glamrogan, told cricket.com.au.
“It broadens my experiences and broadens my learning and hopefully it will hold me in good stead going forward.”
With the Australia A tour to South Africa cancelled due to the ongoing pay dispute between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association, Gillespie, who’d been appointed head coach of the ‘A’ side, is now set to link up with the PNG squad in Port Moresby later this month. The former paceman, who has a test double century to his name, ruled out taking on the PNG job full-time due to his commitments with the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League, saying he was looking forward to his upcoming stint.
“I have never been to PNG before,” Gillespie said. “I’m going to go up at the end of the month for a meet and greet, meet the players and staff and get to know everyone.
“I’m just excited to see how these guys go about their work. I’ve heard a lot of very good things. – cricket.com.au