JN Gillespie of Australia

Full Name:

Jason Neil Gillespie

DoB:

Saturday, April 19, 1975

Birthplace:

Darlinghurst

Teams:

South Australia

Test Debut:

v West Indies at Sydney, 1996

ODI Debut:

v Sri Lanka at Colombo (Premadasa), 1996

Bats:

RH

Bowls:

RAF

Player Record:

link to stats

Australia's first aboriginal cricketer has had a wonderful Test career as an opening bowler, but it would have been better still had he not been so plagued by injuries.

He has played 66 Tests, and only missed two since November 2002, but after his debut in 1996 against the West Indies he played only 10 matches in four years because of a whole host of injuries.

There is a feeling that all the stress fractures, bone breaks and strains are catching up with him and make him an old 30-year-old, compared to the fitter 35-year-old Glenn McGrath.

Statistics back this up; McGrath took 36 wickets in the six Tests leading up to the Ashes while Gillespie managed only 14 in two three-match series.

But then he was always in McGrath's shadow, and has never produced quite the same devastating performances despite being quicker and doing more with the ball. Gillespie has never taken 10 in a match or more than 20 in a series.

His new shorter run up has reduced his pace and he does not appear quite the bowler who terrorised Marcus Trescothick in consecutive Ashes series.

Gillespie is as well-known for his outrageous mullet and passions for heavy metal music and wrestling as his bowling. Though popular with teammates, he is a somewhat bashful man with the public.

Gillespie has been a fantastic bowler for Australia but he's struggling a bit at the moment and that may be because of the cumulative effect of all his many injuries.

He's had so many injuries during his career because he's the sort of bowler who pounds his leg into the front crease, and he's starting to look like an old 30-year-old.

Maybe his pace has slowed because of the injuries, or maybe it's a subconscious thing where he slows down to avoid more injuries happening.

Whatever it is, his bowling has lost its nip and there's a big effort from him to pick up his speed. There's also a lot of pressure for his place from Brett Lee and Michael Kasprowicz.

Gillespie needs to be taking top-order wickets to be worth his place, but if gets a three-for at the moment, it's likely to be three tailenders.