KARACHI: Australian cricket great Jason Gillespie, who has been appointed as the head coach of Pakistan’s red-ball cricket, will soon join the green shirts.
The former cricketer said he is ready to start his journey with Pakistan and said consistency, discipline and team mentality are the keys to success.
In an exclusive interview with geo newsCoach Gillespie also said it was important not to burn out players and emphasized managing their players’ workloads.
Gillespie has been appointed as Pakistan’s long-term head coach, alongside Gary Kirsten, who will take charge of white-ball cricket. The Australian said he has been in contact with Kirsten regarding the player’s workload management and he will continue to do so.
He also confirmed that he will soon arrive in Pakistan and a test-style camp for the players will be held.
When asked if he would be staying in Pakistan often due to his concurrent role as a selector, he replied, “I plan to spend some time in Pakistan and observe the players in the domestic environment.”
“We are looking forward to going to Pakistan. We will hold a camp that incorporates fitness training and hope to strengthen our skills leading up to the two Tests against Bangladesh.
“So we’re going to put together what that camp is going to be like, what the duration is going to be, and go from there, and we’re very excited. And then we go to Pakistan and the PCB guys. “I’m looking forward to meeting all the players,” he added.
The Australian said his method involves using maximum tools to find which players are best suited to play against a particular opponent or in a particular situation.
They also announced that they will adopt a rotation policy to avoid player burnout.
“We also make sure that we take care of all our players, especially our multi-format players. We want them to play their best for Pakistan every time they step on the pitch, so we don’t let them get tired or tired. We have to be really careful not to. If our players need to rest from time to time because of that, then so be it,” he said.
“It’s not just the actual number of days you’re on that assignment, it’s a combination of training, travel and all these things. We don’t want to burn out our players. We don’t want them to represent Pakistan at the park. We want to make sure that every time we walk into a team, they’re healthy, strong, resilient, and ready to give it their all. That’s why we really need that team mentality.
“We can’t rely on the same 11 players playing every day all year round. We need to make sure we have a team mentality. We want our players to come into the Test match 70 per cent ready. No.’ Rather, I want them to do their best to give them the best chance of performing well for Pakistan and that’s really important to me,” Gillespie added.
He admitted he had already spoken to white-ball coach Gary Kirsten and the selectors about the matter, and insisted the coaching staff needed to provide clarity to the players as they were an asset.
“We have a duty to look after these people. And if you simply log in and play in all three formats in all fixtures, especially players in all formats, set it to fail. We want to give our players the best chance to succeed so that we don’t fail,” said the Pakistan cricket team’s red-ball coach.
“And if that means we need to rest them and take care of them, rest them from series, rest them from games here and there.”
In response to a question, Gillespie said he is approaching the role with eyes wide open, knowing the by-products that come with coaching the Pakistan cricket team.
“I am a realist and I understand that sometimes you will face challenges, but hopefully the plan is to minimize them and maximize the smooth sailing, and that is consistent. “And the Pakistan team I am associated with will definitely be a very dedicated and disciplined force,” he said.
Asked if he is a fan of England’s brand of Test cricket, ‘Buzzball’, and would like Pakistan to replicate it, the Australian said every team plays according to their strengths. He added that he wants other players to see how Pakistan is playing instead of Pakistan trying to watch other players play.
Pakistan team’s red-ball head coach said he wants Pakistan’s cricketers to be adaptable.
“I think the important thing is to get together with the playing group and see how they want to be perceived and how they want their style of cricket to play. So the captains, the players, the support I’m looking forward to talking to the staff about how we want to play and ultimately getting everyone to look at us and play our game instead of everyone trying to imitate everyone else. “I want you to see what I’m doing,” he said.
“For us, it’s about going out there and being very disciplined and being consistent. Hopefully, if we can achieve those two things, it will go a long way towards playing some very good Test cricket.”
“What we need is to be flexible and adaptable to whatever situation or opposition we face. In theory it might be good to say we are going to score over five points, but the situation and conditions might not allow it. We want to be a very adaptable team and be able to adjust and play on different surfaces against different opponents.”
“I think as long as the players in the locker room and the coaches are really clear on what they want to do, that’s fine. I think that’s the absolute key for me. Absolutely clear roles. “It’s about getting out there and showing our skills,” he said.
On Pakistan’s chances of finishing in the top two teams in the ICC Test Championship, the coach said it is a challenge and Pakistan will choose to plan one series at a time.
“I mentioned discipline, I mentioned consistency, because the talent is there, the skill is there. You combine that talent with the work ethic desire, the attitude, all of those things, and you have to work hard to improve yourself. How can we make sure that we give them the best chance of success?” And I’m confident that we can do that.” “We want to make sure we are the best prepared team possible,” he added.
Replying to another question, Jason Gillespie said Pakistan can always learn from their opponents and should go into every match with an open mind to observe what other teams have done.
“I’m not saying we need to play like the Australian team. I want them to play like the Pakistan team. And no matter which team we play every time, it will help us become a better team. “Hopefully we can learn a lesson from a little bit of information,” he said.
He said supporters are the “12th man” of the Pakistan team, but urged them to continue to support the team through thick and thin.
“I want our fans to be proud of this team and support us as much as we can no matter what. We’re going to have some really good days and some not-so-great days.
“But I want the Pakistani supporters to root for the players and support them as much as they can because the players need positive energy. If we can get a lot of positive energy and positive vibes from our fantastic supporters then I think that will rub off on the players.”
“If we can get Pakistan supporters to celebrate the team and be a part of the team, it will definitely help us succeed. There is no doubt that our supporters will be our 12th. , they will be a really great support for the players. The players will know that in good times and bad, the supporters are there for them and are excited to see the team do well. “If you’re there, you’ll really benefit from watching the players,” he concluded.
