Gillespie gives Yorkshire lift and they return to summit

Gillespie was present at Chesterfield yesterday to watch Yorkshire thrash Derbyshire by an innings and 113 runs, a result that saw them leapfrog Sussex at the top of Division One.

The Yorkshire first-team coach had been on compassionate leave following the tragic death last Saturday of his father, Neil, who passed away from a heart attack while staying at his son’s family home in Leeds.

Gillespie, who will return to Australia with his mother, Vicki, hopes to be back for Yorkshire’s next Championship match at home to Warwickshire on Friday week.

“I’m going to be heading back to Adelaide, probably sometime next week,” said Gillespie, who is set to miss the latter stages of Yorkshire’s Twenty20 Cup group campaign.

“I’ll head back with my mum for between a week and two weeks, and I’ll be back as soon as I can.

“I’m hoping to be back for the Warwickshire game, but I’m not quite sure at this stage.

“That’s the plan, but we’ll have to wait and see how things pan out.”

It has been a wretched few days for the popular Gillespie, whose presence at Queen’s Park gave everyone a lift.

Several Yorkshire supporters approached him to offer their condolences, and Gillespie responded with grace and gratitude.

His presence certainly lifted the Yorkshire team, who produced yet another clinical performance.

It was one that pleased the former Australia fast bowler, whose side have now won five of their 10 Championship games.

“It was a ruthless display and the lads worked their socks off,” said Gillespie.

“That’s the sort of cricket we want to play, and we were patient and disciplined with everything we did.

“We’re top of the table again and we’ve just got to keep it ticking along.

“You never want to get too far ahead of yourself in this game; if you start thinking that you forget what’s in front of you, and we just want to keep playing the cricket we’re playing and try to be as consistent as we can.”

The only disappointment for Yorkshire was news of another injury to batsman Phil Jaques.

The Australian, who had only just returned after a stomach strain, has suffered a muscle tear under his rib.

Jaques sustained the injury while scoring 139 in this match – his first hundred of the season – and is set to be out for four-to-five weeks.

Yorkshire’s medical staff have provisionally earmarked the Championship match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, beginning on August 21, for Jaques’s return.

Yorkshire resume their Twenty20 Cup campaign tomorrow when they play Nottinghamshire at Headingley (2.40pm start).

Yorkshire have won two of their first six games and must win at least three of the last four to stand any chance of reaching the quarter-finals.

“We realise we probably need to win all our remaining matches and will do our best to get the job done,” said Gillespie.

“Notts are a top side and have been in pretty good touch in T20, and although we’ll have to play extremely well to beat them, we’re confident we’ll be able to give them a shake.”

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Match report and scoreboard: Page 5.