Cricket: Dizzy spell steadies Glamorgan

Apr 25 2008 by Phil Blanche, South Wales Echo

NEW Glamorgan overseas signing Jason Gillespie has declared he was a satisfied man after his first bowling display for the Welsh county.

The 33-year-old Australian seamer finished with figures of 26-11-56-2 as Middlesex were bowled out for 308 at tea on the second day of the LV county championship game at Lord’s.

Part of these figures were a remarkable return on the second day yesterday of 10-7-11-1, including starting with seven successive maidens before wicket-keeper David Nash sneaked a boundary to fine leg on Gillespie’s 48th ball on his way to a battling 96.

“It was my first run out for Glammy and I was very happy with the way the ball came out of my hand,” said Gillespie.

“It was a little while before I realised I had bowled so many maidens.

“In the eighth over I mentioned it to Ryan Watkins and sure enough then I was hit for four.

“But while it is always nice not to go for many runs, as a bowler you are out there to take wickets and you want to take as many as you can.”

Gillespie, Alex Wharf, David Harrison and Ryan Watkins accounted for nine of the Middlesex wickets in seamer-friendly conditions in London and the Australian hopes that will bode well for the rest of the campaign.

“I thought as a bowling group we stuck in well and performed well as a unit,” added the Australian.

“This will hopefully act as a precedent for the rest of the summer.

“We want to repeat that in the second innings and for the rest of the season.

“It had to be dominated by the seamers because the wicket dictated that, and there will be plenty of occasions where our spinners will have a chance.

“You really had to pitch it up on that wicket and that was our goal.”

And after a week in Wales, Gillespie has admitted he is enjoying the company of his new team-mates.

“I am having a great time,” added Gillespie.

“I am just getting to know all the lads and it has been great fun.”

But Gillespie did have one complaint about his arrival at Glamorgan.

“It has been pretty cold, especially from what I have come from,” he added, with the Australian witnessing thunder, lightning and hail storms at Lord’s yesterday.

“Adelaide has had a really hot summer and I spent a month in India as well, so to come from Cardiff and play in London has been pretty cool.”

After his bowling exploits, Gillespie watched from the famous Lord’s balcony as the Glamorgan top order collapsed to 26 for three, with former Surrey paceman Tim Murtagh claiming the hat-trick of victims.

But Mike Powell (45 not out) and former Middlesex all-rounder Jamie Dalrymple (15 not out) responded with an unbeaten fourth-wicket stand of 59 to leave Glamorgan on 85 for three at the close, 223 runs behind the hosts.

gareth.griffiths@mediawales.co.uk