Gillespie convinced Sidebottom is the answer to England T20 crisis

JASON GILLESPIE believes England could do worse than send an SOS to Ryan Sidebottom in the wake of their humiliating exit from the World Twenty20.
Jason Gillespie.Jason Gillespie.
Jason Gillespie.

The Yorkshire first-team coach believes Sidebottom could still do an excellent job in the game’s shortest form and remains one of the finest pace bowlers around.

Sidebottom, 36, was an integral member of the England team that won the World Twenty20 in 2010, taking 10 wickets at an average of 16, before announcing his international retirement later that year.

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After watching England make no impact at the latest World Twenty20, where their humiliating winter was capped by an embarrassing defeat to the Netherlands, Gillespie threw his support behind the evergreen left-armer.

“England could do a lot worse than go back to Ryan and I don’t see why he couldn’t still do a job as an international T20 player,” said Gillespie.

“Long-form international cricket and 50-over cricket is probably beyond him now, and he wouldn’t mind me saying that, but I think he’d be more than capable of bowling four overs in a T20 game, while he’s still agile in the field and looks after himself well.

“Whether Ryan would want to play international T20 cricket again, I don’t know, but I’m just giving my opinion.

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“From what I’ve seen in the last couple of years, England haven’t quite found the right combination with their bowling up front and at the death, and yet we’ve got a guy here at Yorkshire who’s still doing the business.”

As speculation grows as to who will become England’s new head coach, Gillespie has reiterated his commitment to Yorkshire.

The former Australia fast bowler is one of the most highly-regarded young coaches but said his focus was firmly with the county. “Being an international coach is something I would definitely look at in the future, but right now it’s not on my agenda,” he stressed. “I want to achieve a lot of things at Yorkshire, and I think we’re going in the right direction.

“I genuinely think I’ve still got a lot to learn about coaching and man-management.

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“I’d like to think I’m on the right track, but I’m still learning and at this point in time I wouldn’t be interested in an international job.”

Four men are thought to be in the running to replace Andy Flower – England one-day coach Ashley Giles, former England coach Peter Moores, ex-Sri Lanka coach Trevor Bayliss and the Nottinghamshire director of cricket Mick Newell.

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