Boxing Day display a coaching classic (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Jason Gillespie cites England’s blitz of Aussies as perfect bowling

5:20pm Thursday 22nd December 2011 in Yorkshire By Graham Hardcastle

Jason Gillespie has hailed England’s bowling performance during the opening day of last year’s Boxing Day Test match at Melbourne as the best he has ever seen.

Jimmy Anderson, Chris Tremlett and Tim Bresnan were among the wickets as the Aussies were skittled for just 98 – and Yorkshire’s new first-team coach uses it as the perfect example when trying to coach bowling.

It was a day’s cricket that contributed to Ricky Ponting’s men being labelled as their country’s worst team in decades.

A year on and Australia are preparing to face India in the latest Boxing Day Test on the back of two drawn series against South Africa and New Zealand.

They are a team in transition. Michael Clarke is the new captain, they have a new-look batting line-up and a fresh bowling attack, which is something that excites former paceman Gillespie.

He explained: “I use this example in my coaching. When England bowled Australia out for 98 at Melbourne, I haven’t seen a group of fast bowlers bowl that well.

When England bowled Australia out for 98 at Melbourne, I haven’t seen a group of fast bowlers bowl that well

Jason Gillespie

“They were a group together. I saw the pitch maps and how they bowled on that particular surface. You don’t need to coach, you just need to put that up on a big screen and say ‘watch that, that’s how you bowl’.

“Everyone talks about Australia’s decline but I think that takes away a bit from other countries.

“When you think of England, India and South Africa, they have all worked incredibly hard and I don’t think you can just say ‘oh, Australia’s declined’.

“Australia haven’t performed as well as they could have, and have probably dipped a little. But other teams have shot through and played some wonderful cricket and I think those teams have to be acknowledged.”

Australia could field a bowling attack including young guns James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc – both aged 21 – on Monday, while teenage tyro Pat Cummins is injured.

And while 36-year-old Gillespie admits there is still plenty of work to be done for Australia, he is looking forward with optimism.

He said: “The young crop of bowlers are exciting. As an Australian, it’s great to see these young quicks coming through.

“At the moment, the teams above Australia are there because they’re better. Australia have realised they can’t hide behind that fact.

“It’s up to coaches and it’s up to the players to find solutions to the dilemma.”