Ashes: Jason Gillespie Defends 'Dad's Army' Comment, 'Grumpy' Aussies See Red
Former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie said he was highlighting the ages of several Aussies player in the side for Ashes. Coach Darren Lehmann though has informed him that his players are not too happy about the views expressed - especially before the start of Ashes.
Jason Gillespie insisted on Monday that he was simply giving an honest answer to a question when he highlighted the ages of several players in Australia's squad ahead of their Ashes series against England.
Gillespie's comments led current Australia coach Darren Lehmann, who has known the former Test fast bowler for over 20 years since they first played together in the same South Australia state side, to phone his old team-mate and say: "G'Day mate' it's Dad's Army here.
"I've got some pretty grumpy players here after what you said about them." (Also read: England's Spanish break does not bother Aussies)
But as Gillespie, now the coach of English county champions Yorkshire, also told the Guardian in an interview published Monday there was a perfectly straightforward explanation for his remarks.
"It certainly caused a stir didn't it? But it was very simple, I was asked the question as to how, if I was in the England camp, would I try to beat Australia," he said. (Ashes 2015: How England and Australia shape up in every department)
"Now I saw no glaring weaknesses in the Australian team. Their batting is sound, the seam bowling is quality, the spin is very good but the opposition still need to find a way in. So I looked at the ages and thought England could target that. They have 10 players over 30 years of age, how can England use that to their advantage?
"So if I was England coach, I'd keep those guys out there for a long time," added Gillespie, who recently lost out on that very job to fellow-Australian coach Trevor Bayliss.
"If Chris Rogers is out there for two days then has 10 minutes to strap on his pads and get his feet moving, could that work to England's advantage?," added Gillespie, who took 259 wickets in 71 Tests from 1996 to 2006 as a member of a highly successful Australia side.
"Brad Haddin is 38 this year, so test his fitness. The same with Michael Clarke, he's had back problems; test him out and keep him in the field. Ryan Harris, it's well-documented he has a dodgy knee, so why wouldn't you try to keep that guy on the ground bowling lots of spells?
"It's just common sense. So I was asked a question and I'm not the sort of person who dodges them. I didn't say anything that isn't true," Gillespie said.
Holders Australia begin their defence of the Ashes with the first Test against England in Cardiff starting on July 8.