“Jason Gillespie is a bit like Gambhir”- Ricky Ponting on Pakistan’s red-ball coach

Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting feels Pakistan’s new red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie is a bit like Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir. Ponting, who observed Gillespie as a leader, said the former fast bowler has had a fantastic record as a coach, just like Gambhir.

Gambhir recently led KKR to glory in IPL 2024 as a mentor. Meanwhile, Gillespie has the experience of coaching South Australia in Australia’s domestic circuit and Adelaide strikers in the BBL. 

Gillespie took over as head coach at Strikers ahead of the 2015-16 BBL season, leading the team for nine seasons. The former fast bowler also led the Strikers to glory in the 2017-18 season.

Ricky Ponting said on ICC Review, “Jason Gillespie is a bit like Gambhir. Pretty much everywhere he has been, his coaching record has been very very good. He will have some challenges I got no doubt about it. But he is a deep thinker and as I said, a quiet person that goes about it in his own way.”

On the other hand, Pakistan could not even qualify for the Super 8 of the T20 World Cup after they were knocked out in the group stages. Ergo, the selectors were forced to make a few changes to their red-ball team and Ponting highlighted it was expected.

“We’ve got a few WhatsApp groups over the years, all of us old guys that have played together. So everyone’s congratulated him (Gillespie) and wished him luck in that role. And look, to be honest, I am not surprised at all by the amount of changes in that group. I know it is a different format but they had a very disappointing T20 World Cup. If you are not willing to make some changes, you’re expecting similar results to come your way.”

Pakistan will host Bangladesh for two-match Test series, with first Test starting on August 21 at Rawalpindi.