Gillespie, Garton & goings on at Sussex CCC
I was going to open my post with a report on an enthralling match yesterday in which Sussex lost in the Bob Willis Trophy to Essex but this was overshadowed by the news that coach Jason “Dizzy” Gillespie is leaving the club at the end of this season.
I suspect that this is one case where the words “by mutual consent” do not disguise something else.
It suited Gillespie to take up coaching at home for the South Australian Redbacks. Apart from anything else travel from Australia is so difficult in the pandemic.
It suited Sussex to have their wage bill significantly trimmed.
Gillespie coached Yorkshire to two Championship titles in 2104 and 2015 but he leaves Sussex pretty much as he found it. We are still in division two and, although we have a strong white ball team with a formidable pace attack, we have won neither the Royal London nor the T20.
His lasting legacy is probably the development of Jofra Archer and Ollie Robinson now called up to the Test team. Another he must have helped is speedster George Garton.
On the plane back from Australia in the last Ashes series where we were beaten comprehensively, a man recognised me from the Players Club in Sussex and introduced himself as George Garton’s father.
After that I always followed his sons’s career.
The abundance of young fast bowlers, both at England and Sussex, stymied his career though he played for the Lions.
Gillespie selected a team of youngsters for the Bob Willis Trophy, omitting seasoned pros like Luke Wells, Danny Briggs and Paul Beer.
George Garton took 9 wickets in the match including Sir Alistair Cook twice and England hopeful Dan Lawrence. Essex – the Champions- won a tense final finish by 3 wickets
He is a left-hander though bats as right-hander. His action reminds me of Graham Dilley.
If there was not Olly Stone ahead of him – and the reluctance of Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson to give up their places – he may well be selected at a more senior level.
At 23 and with 2 First Class fifties he can bide his time.
I followed the game on the stream.
The commentators from BBC Radio Essex were Don Topley assisted by BBC Radio Sussex Adrian Harms.
Both were relaxed and informative and I preferred it to modern day TMS.
Gillespie came on for a lengthy interview but there was no reference – not even a hint – of the news that he was leaving.
With 2 defeats Sussex are out of the Bob Willis but hopes lie in the T2o if they can call upon Jofra Archer, Ollie Robinson, Phil Salt… and hopefully George Garton.
