One week into lockdown

Life goes on as we enter the second week of lockdown, its strange that this time last week we had  listened to the PM and were  trying to understand what was going to happen...……………….some people it appears still don't have a grip of what lockdown, essential travel and once daily exercise means.

The strain on all the key services is immense, we are lucky we still have gas, electric and water, the NHS is being inundated with volunteers of which  a number of cricketers are getting involved. Its good to see Coach Gale and his wife Kate stepping up and helping out.
A great contribution and  well played.

Very sad though to hear that the Lancashire Chairman has passed away after contracting Covid19. Thoughts are with his family at this very difficult time and to Lancashire CCC  too.

It really is  a very different world to this time last year, and I think that this time next year we will be still trying to get ourselves into some sort of order.

I do hope that where there has been an increase of kindness and help for the vulnerable and elderly that this will continue when we eventually get to the end of the coronavirus tunnel.

It takes very little to give a helping hand, a kind word or a kind turn, remember one day we will be those elderly people,

I had lots that I wanted to do when I got home last evening, but I was actually very tired, and so I watched a little bit of TV and then headed off to bed.

It is also back to dark in the morning { well it is at  5am} and much lighter in the evening.

Spring and summer are on their way...………………...and not the summer that I was hoping for


Well time to head out.

Be safe, stay home if you can, don't forget to give someone a call, it might be just what they need.

Everyone is dealing with this current situation in different way, but we are all in it together.

Have a good day where ever you are and whatever you are doing.

Back to work

Monday is here and I am not keen to leave my little 'oasis'
I have been in my own little bubble  all weekend and really do not want to go back out into the world, its not great.
People cannot and will not  abide by what the Government have ask us to do.
These people need to be held to account.
I expect that we will be in total lockdown by the end of the week.

I have to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed a weekend of nothing.
I have done lots around the house, and cooked { as those on Instagram will have seen}, however what I realised is that I go out at weekends , spend money when I don't really need to go out. I think that I might benefit from this insight in lots of ways.

There was some cricket news and this news brought a tear to my eyes, the lovely Ollie Rayner announced that he was retiring .
Ollie had the build of a fast bowler but was a spinner.
Ollie was also part of the Middlesex team at Scarbados when  Harry was President.
I would leave that right there. except to say that had I not been included in rounds with the team early evening, I may not have got into other scrapes later on that evening...…………...although knowing me so well, I think I would have.

Another of my top bowlers leaves the field.

I have been Tai Chiing  this weekend and I am really enjoying it, whether I am doing it correctly is another matter.

I have a list of things that  I am going to do in the next couple of weeks { fingers crossed a couple of weeks} and I think that I could learn quite a lot. Its never too late to start to learn something new.

And now I am off to make omelettes for the office and head off to work.

Have a great day.

Take care and stay safe.

lockdown weekend at The Wickets

Good morning from The Wickets, its Saturday and I am on lockdown now until Monday, only out for my once a day exercise.

I did my essential shop on my way home from work yesterday so I am now set for the week. I have planned menus to use what I have in the freezer too.

Flipping heck!

However true to form the weather forecast is not too great for the next couple of days, I'll be happy if I get the washing outside to dry.

I am also going to make a some chutney  as I have some fruit that needs using up and what better way to do that.

I am starting my on line Tai Chi as soon as I have posted this blog, time to get body and soul into order. Its a good opportunity to slow down , which for me is hard to do, but, I need to.

Next week will be 9 months since I moved into The Wickets and nearly 9 months since I hurt my foot which started all the  problems of last year.
Firstly I can't believe it is 9 months since I moved into my lovely little  house and secondly the foot, knee, hip thing!!!!
However on that front this week has been the first week since the initial injury that I haven't had any achilles pain on getting up in the morning.

The thing that I am noticing as I am lying here in bed typing this, is that lack of cars moving around highlights the sound of birds. There is a huge flock of geese that fly over regularly, and now I get to here the Oyster Catchers  { squeaky birds as known in some circles}, the Magpies are plentiful around here and I always love to hear the blackbirds.
very relaxing.

Well time to get myself up and out of bed and move to the garden for a cup of coffee before Tai Chi and before  the heavens open, sky is not looking too promising.

Have a happy Saturday, take care of yourselves.

End of a very strange week

well this has to have been the strangest week I have ever lived through.

I'm still here and still doing the daily routine. Work is paramount and although we are on an office skeleton staff, we are still getting things done, helping keeping the water clean and drinkable.

I am managing to get some sleep now ( thanks to a hypnotherapy app) and although the days are filled with quite a bit of doom and gloom, I feel fully able to face them.

I hope that those of you who are self isolating are all coping OK.

I was going to take a break from blogging as there was no cricket, but thought that I would try to continue and bore you all with my ramblings of...……………….well nothing in particular.

Those of us in the office are suffering with severely dry,peeling hands, due to the amount of anti bac wipes, soap, foam etc we are using. I am using every hand cream I have to try to alleviate it.

At the moment the winners are 

1. L'occitane 20% shea butter

2. Avon age restore firming hand cream.

there we go, some consumer research for you all.

Who can say I haven't been  anything but helpful!?

As the weekend is approaching I am hoping that the sun continues to shine, in which case I will be out in the garden doing a bit of strimming and tidying up. I will get as much fresh air as possible, having been cooped up in the office all week.

I will be having my daily exercise walk, and I am starting online Tai Chi too, as well as signing up to learn Spanish. I think that when we can travel again I need to be able to do more than ask for 2 beers
and a brandy and hot chocolate


Well its time to head out, the roads are reasonably clear and that is one blessing in the current situation.

I wish you all a good Friday  and stay safe and keep well.

Love to you all

Looking back at sunnier times

Day 2 of lockdown for some of you so I thought that I would revisit some fun times,  I will take you back to August 2015 when  my besty chum Harry Latchman was President of Middlesex and made the journey up to Chester le Street.

Hope you enjoy.

Yesterday was very hot and sunny before 10am and frocks were the order of the day ( except for Pauly Paul and Mr Funky) and we headed off to The Riverside Ground.

We were expecting the match to be over before tea but they all dug in and so after much debate I am back there again today. Just to see my the arch enemies of my Tykes beat former besty home county of Durham.

We were once again visited by El Presidenti who had everyone in fits of laughter with tales of cricket, cricket tours and most things that I was involved in!!!

We saw lots of wickets fall which sadly for my Tykes was not happening as rain delayed the start of their match against Sussex. However once they got into it they  no stopping them until close. Michael Yardy was playing his last match and after His Royal Ryanness took his wicket  all my boys shook his hand. Once again confrming that cricket is the game of gentlemen.

It also meant that HRR added one more to his FC total. I am getting a bit excited now.

So I am lying in bed typing this on my mobile again as  my wifi will hopefully be repaired tonight.

I hadn't realised how much I use the internet or how much I rely on my WiFi!!!!  And that is quite worrying.

I really should get up...........but at the moment I am just basking in the thought of another cricket day.

ok need to put some washing on as I havent done any all weekend!!!!!


  ***********************************************************************

I hope that you are all keeping well.

Keep your chin up everyone.

Day one of lockdown done

Day one of lockdown was done and dusted,although in truth I am not locked down. I was  in batting from 8-5pm and not a moment longer.

This will be the order of my innings from now on. No working over the allotted hours, go in and do your thing then go home.

And the same goes for the other 3 in the office, { and those in the workshop who have dosing kiosks to get out the door to keep 4 sites working} 

We all have cards in case we are stopped by the police about our movements, which stipulate what we do and why we have to go to work. Something that last week would never have crossed my mind.

I am sleeping less and less with a lot on my mind, especially those lads I have still on site and who can't  come back home yet.

Luckily { or not} they have all been living together for 3 months in a lovely house in Northumberland that we rented , they have a cinema room and a games room, and a hot tub. huge garden and terrace, they are probably a lot better off than some people, but they are not with their loved ones.

What I do know is that when this is all over and  we are getting back on our feet, I am moving on.

You can all breathe  again as I have toilet rolls { after donating some of mine to next door}.

Mr Funky the Chauffeur very kindly chucked 4 over my fence for me.

Hurrah!

Thank you Fin,I will buy you a pint when we are allowed to go to the Cricket Club again.

After seeing the effects of the stupid sheeple  who stripped shelves bare in supermarkets it was amazing to see how many people went to the shops yesterday for their 'essential' shopping There were still queues!

I saw this as I passed Morrisons to go to the office and when I left  to go home,the car park was still relatively full.

Anyhow, time to head out again.

Please all stay safe, if you don't have to go out, please don't.

Just an after thought, all my hydrangeas are in bud, something that always makes me smile.

New day , different rules

Well, its a new day and we are now playing on a new field.

Coach has called the shots and given us the way the game has to be played, its just for us to go and do our best.

I'm opening the batting today with the rest of Key workers, its to be hoped when I get to the middle Im not out first ball and face a long walk back to the pavilion.

I have been put into bat due to no response from my 'agents' after my request to know if  I  was able to play for this team.

For the rest of us, its a bit of batting and fielding and a lot of thumb twiddling  on the balcony.

I am not making light of the current situation, I just want to come out of the other side unscathed { as do we all}.

I have every thing set up at home { apart from House Party  which I am still having trouble  downloading}.

I was due to get the old barnet chopped as its the 8 week mark, however barnet tamer Jackie had to close last week as she is asthmatic  and it will be at least 12 weeks before I get a chance to see her, so I may well just grow the mop! at least then I can fasten it up!

Nails are trimmed short to make it easier to keep clean and make sure no little germs are hiding.

In Sainsburys last night, I watched  a couple just emptying the shelves into their trolley.

The lady on the till told me that a man had been in earlier and bought 6 packs of Dioralyte and 10 pregnancy tests. She asked if he was expecting good news and he stared at her blankly and then said  he hoped he didn't have a temperature!!!!

'Did you tell him what they were' I asked.

'No' she said ' after all if he thought they were thermometers why would buy 10, greedy bugger'

McDonalds sparked road rage as I left work, the roads were clogged up on the estate with people queuing to get their last fix of tumbled beef and MSG.

And as I crossed the A1 I hit the traffic waiting for chicken willies and beaks with BBQ dip at Aycliffe services.

Dear god...……………….what is wrong with people!!

And with that I am off to sort out red line drawings for chemical  dosing  in Northumbria and see what the next 3 weeks has in store for me.

Stay safe out there everyone, and if you are in isolation I am sending you  huge hug.

Dark days

I am late posting today as I had a lot to do before I left for work, I'm in serious cleaning mode for all there is only me in the house.

I watched the news which seems to just play on a loop and is doom and gloom, which in reality is pretty much where we are.

Obviously there is no cricket news and won't be any until at least July and joy of joys The 100 will be played, if nothing else is! ( ECB will make sure of that)

Yorkshire had their AGM, and outgoing dinosaur Robin Smith was deemed to be the saviour of Yorkshire CCC!

 I am not bothered about his  departure, he stepped in very quickly after being part of the crew who knifed the previous chairman in the back.

Lets hope we get another forward thinking Chairman and not some out of touch stuffed shirt. ( he even made me wear a dress to go for lunch with the Middlesex President!).

I hope that you are all keeping well and managing to get your essentials.

I have managed to get milk and chickpeas , but I cannot get a toilet roll for love or money.

I will be here from time to time, probably not every day, but you never know.

Stay safe, stay in touch with your loved ones, keep social distancing  if you are out.

If I can do anything to help anyone close let me know and I will try my best.

Strange times

we are living in strange times at the moment. No toilet roll in the shops and people fighting over a bag of carrots.

I dragged myself into Sainsburys after a long and taxing day in the office, no milk to be had, and I bought some sugar snap peas  and a tin of chickpeas and stood in the queue. I glanced in the trolley of the lady in front and  mentally started to play Ready Steady Cook with her items.

Im not sure what I could make out of 4 bags of ice ( WTF...…...make your own), 4 packs of Oreo Ice cream biscuits, 4 swedes, tins of 'All day breakfast' ( WTFH is that when its at home???), tins of evaporated milk, one tin of prunes and some sweetcorn (tinned).

Not a chuffing clue what I could make but certainly didn't fancy it at all!!!

As I glanced around, I realised that people were just putting anything into trolleys that were left on the shelves.

Its a sad and sorry state of affairs that  we have come to this sort of behaviour.

 I don't know about 'Blitz spirit', but I do know what it is to be a normal human being!

My next door neighbour ( couple with baby and young child) told me last night that they couldn't get any toilet paper and were using the stock of baby wipes ( not flushing them I hasten to add).

I gave them 4 of mine, to hopefully get them through for a few days.

He tried to pay me, but to be honest, I only paid £1 for them, so no payment needed. And for the record I haven't stockpiled, I had 8 in the house from a few weeks ago.

It looks like all cricket teams are home from pre season tours and we are still waiting for  news about the season.

Yorkshire have said that the AGM will go ahead, I'm not sure that this is a good idea, however I guess it may be the last outing for the Chairman before lock down ( I say this assuming he is over 70). Also apparently his last year as Chairman.

So next season some fresh blood on the committee.

All in all, we are in unchartered waters as most of us did not live through the war ( despite what the former Chairman implies about my age!)

I have lots on my mind at the moment, digesting news and trying to keep my chin(s) up, so will keep this short as I am  off to deal with the world of water.

I am part of teams who are working to  keep water clean and fresh and coming through your taps daily,  I am doing my very best  to do my job and all that it entails.

Stay safe and have a good one where ever you are.

more from 2015

Still nothing crickety and I  am living in semi isolation.
So I take you back to 2015 and a bit of happy news { well I thought it was].

my head is spinning, and so am I in my office  chair ....................OK enough of that or pineapple and plum smoothie  will be adorning the walls!!!!!!!!

It's a super fine day today, all the worries of the last couple of weeks have gone and I can now get on with the rest of the season in a state of super excitedness.

Yes it looks like Gillespie the Gallant is staying with my beloved Tykes. how much better could the start of my working week be!

This man made my birthday back in 2011  ( 15th November) when they announced on that auspicious day that he was to take the reins of the Yorkshire team, since then he has taken them from Division 2 to the T20 final in 2012 where they lost to Hampshire.

we saw them promoted to the top flight and then fight tooth and nail losing out to Durham as county champions in 2013.

however Gillespie the gallant was not deterred, he worked hard with the team and finally on 12th September 2014 they lifted the County Championship trophy.

this is the man who supplied England with 6 players at the start of the season and continues to bring forward new players who are currently playing brilliantly for the club.

yes I am biased, I have a deep admiration for Jason, having watched him at international level and also when he played at Yorkshire.

I know that he did not do this single handedly, however his no nonsense approach has been exactly what Yorkshire needed.

Now I can settle down to the rest of the season in the knowledge that he is striving to bring the club more silverware.

All is nearly well with the world, we just have to get His Royal Ryanness fit and playing again and everything will be back to normality here at Chateau de Champions.

Top Tyke!!!!

Oh and we won the test match too, with some brilliant performances by the whole team, but especially Captain Cook with  a great second innings batting performance, Joe Root constantly putting runs on the board. And Ben Stokes with  great batting and bowling.

And Moin Ali with a superb catch to end the match.

The bandwagon now moves onto Headingley at the end of the week.

It's seems to be the makings for a great week!

                                **************************************************

Hope that you are all keeping well and staying safe.
Have a great Thursday

back to 2016

  Another trawl through the many blogs brought up this one, now that was a funny old evening!

Afternoon all, I would like to say that I look as glamorous as this sleeping beauty........................sadly not.

If you think about Ronald Mcdonald ,thats' what I look like.

Well first things first,

Yesterday afternoon, I set off to Headingley closely followed by Sophie. I arrived,nipped to the shops and then waited for her arrival.

we were staying in the David Bairstow room ( which brought tears to our eyes)

You know when something odd happens and you just know that this will be the  way things are going to pan out for the rest of your stay.......well yes, it started in the Stadium car park.

I went down to meet Sophie and we were hugging and chattering  50 to the dozen, when out of the corner of my eye I spot a man with an ECB  pass wandering towards me.

We both stop talking as the man asks me

'Hi are you Janet?'

Sophie looks perplexed I have alarm bells ringing  in my head.

'No' I say

'what is the surname of  the person you are looking for?'

'Bairstow' says the ECB man

Sophie now has eyes as big as saucers and I am lost for words.

The ECB man is by this time waffling  away about hair etc

We fall about into fits of laughter!

I know Mummy Bairstow and have to say that I am at least 12 foot taller than her.

And being only 21 how on earth did he think that I had a son  of 26!

Sophie and I had to have a bottle of fizz to calm down!

And so it began, as did the rain.

Which called a halt to all things cricket  but it did mean that Sopie, Susan , Jim and his American friend and I  ( and PH and LL who were stashed in their Mummies handbags) headed from the Long Room to the pub and then eventually Soph & I got back to the lodge..........after a lot of wine, laughter and selfies ( which got fuzzier as the wine took hold)

Sophie, I have just checked my feet, yes you were right I did walk home barefoot and not a cut on them, they are black though.

Thank you all for a great evening, we must do it again in about 4 seasons when I recover!!!!

bye now, from the other Mummy Bairstow.

Lets have a trip down memory lane

Another day and another team on their way home from pre season tours.
 Sussex have made the decision to come home early from South Africa. And that is about it for crickety news so I have  decided that I will  churn out some old blogs for those of you who haven't been around since the beginning.

Hope you enjoy.

                                                       A chat with Jason ( 4/9/ 2015)

A couple of weeks ago I decided that I would beg an 'interview' from Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie, and to my complete shock he said yes!!!

Well after I had picked myself up from the floor, I realised that I had to step up a gear if I was going to do this, I went into total panic!

So as I hinted the other day that I had gatecrashed my way into the Carnegie Pavilion, that was a little fib as I had been invited to go and have a chat with 'Gillespie the Gallant', who was a great sport agreeing to talk to me.

.
Here is the outcome of our meeting,

Firstly Jason  thank you for agreeing to have a chat with me. so lets open with some general questions.

When you were a child what did you want to be?

Its a good question and I can honestly say for  as long as I can  remember, all I ever wanted to do was play cricket for Australia.
That was my whole goal, even when I was at school ,teachers and friends would ask 'What do you want to do with your life?',
I would say 'I want to play cricket for Australia'.
They would say ' you can't have that as a career',
 I would say 'Why not'? it was my goal and my dream.
It was everything,I couldn't imagine doing anything else. cricket was from a very young age something that was very important
I played soccer from a very young age until I was a teenager, I went through fazes, with basketball, squash and tennis, but cricket was always the constant over the summer, I have been very lucky that I have been able to live my dream.

And continue doing it

Yes absolutely.


You do some commentating ,but is coaching where you want to be?

I love coaching, but I wouldn't rule out being full time in the media at some point.I'm 40 now, and who is to say how long I will be coaching. Don't get me wrong I love what I am doing, but there may be media work for me sometime in the future.
I try not to look too far ahead, I am actually not looking any further than this game at the moment
( Yorks V Somerset) to be honest I don't like to look too far into the future.


What do you do in your free time?
*whispers 'please don't say golf!*

I don't play golf very well, I do like golf, but I haven't played for so long, I suppose that's just the fact that we have such a young family.
If I have a day off it's basically a case of spending time with my family, spending time with the kids, it's what I love doing.
It's so busy with county cricket, away from home a lot.
Sometimes when you do have a day off you find that you only have time to  do washing and get ready to go again, that  can be pretty full on
Really any downtime is just  about being with family and friends.


You have travelled extensively with cricket would you say that you have a favourite place?

I really enjoyed the couple of season that we lived in Zimbabwe that was a great time and I really enjoyed living there.
 Africa is beautiful, it's different and it was challenging and  at times it was really hard.
 They have a real love for the game,but  its a very different existence it can't be as professional , there is a lot of stuff going on away from the  cricket  and it takes a lot of Zimbabweans focus away from the game.
That's real life there and you have to respect that.
The love of cricket is definitely there, there is no doubt about that.
I did really love my time out there.


How do you pass the time on team bus journeys?

Either catching up on a bit of work, or generally reading the paper or book,maybe chatting with the lads or the support staff. sometimes there may be a movie which I may watch.
If it's one that Jack Brooks has chosen then its usually pretty awful so I will avoid that.
Generally a bit of everything and if I need to, then I will sleep.

Who is the 'naughtiest' boy in the team?

Who is the 'naughtiest' boy in the team,?
That's a tough question, I don't think any of the lads are naughty, cheeky, yeah they are cheeky. I don't think that there are any naughty lads in the group.
Jack Brooks facial hair is naughty!

Can you not pin him down and shave it off ?

we have had some words about it , he looks like Zorro!!!

Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?

Good question, chances are I will be involved in cricket in  a coaching capacity somewhere, where though  I have no idea.
 I love Yorkshire and would love to be  sitting here in 10 years time still coaching them, that's a long way in the future and with the evolution of the club and the team, its very rare for someone to have 14-15 years as a First Team Coach.
Would that be best for the team?. If it is and I am still here then it means  that the club is going in the right direction and I must be doing something right!
It's a long way in the future though.


 You were a Pro at Rishton in the Lancashire League, did you ever consider working with Lancashire?
I was, that is good knowledge!
I only had half a season with Rishton, I was coming back after breaking my leg in Sri Lanka in 1999, so I missed most of the 1999-2000 season in Australia, I think that I played the last 3 Sheffield Shield games and then we had a whole winter off . I spent the early part of the  summer  playing in the Lancashire League and I took the time to get myself right,prepare for the weekend of cricket, so that I could keep up my fitness, play some games, take some wickets.
Then  I got called up to play International Cricket again, so I only got to be there for half a season.
It was a shame to leave it was a good time, I  really enjoyed it and met some great people.
Great time and some good laughs.

I was at Chester Le Street in 2006 and was  lucky enough to see you take 6-37 against Durham, I remember it vividly, what do you remember about it?

The one wicket that I remember was getting Otis Gibson LBW to a ball that bounced about ankle height from back of a length.I knew that I would get the LB decision and Otis just walked off laughing, I remember if because it was my only 5fer  for Yorkshire.
I played two seasons and it was unacceptable for an overseas fast bowler, to only get one five wicket haul in two seasons. I underachieved massively  as an overseas player, so I do remember it, taking those wickets.
I needed to take some wickets, and  Chester le Street which is one of my favourite grounds.
I always put it in my top 10 when you sit around with players and other coaches doing your top 10 grounds in the world, That ground has always been in my Top 10.
I have always enjoyed bowling there.
it's a massive ground and when you are player waiting to go out to bat or bowl, and now as a Coach sitting on the balcony looking out over to the castle in the background, its a wonderful backdrop.
There is a lovely feel about the place, it's big enough to be an international ground and is very modern but still has a 'feel' about it.



You unknowingly gave me the best birthday present in 2011 

Unknowingly? what did I do? what did I say?

It was announced on 15th November that you had taken the role of First Team Coach with Yorkshire, what made you take the job?

Well I suppose the question that you have to ask is why not?
I was at the time coaching in Zimbabwe, I hadn't had much coaching experience as such, I done bits and pieces, coached the South Australia Country team, been out in the IPL, Australia A.
Then after I had been in Zimbabwe for a couple of seasons I got contacted by Martyn Moxon. He said the club were restructuring  and that a role with the First Team might suit me. Would I apply, I spoke to my wife and decided to apply for it and I did my interview over the phone from Zimbabwe which was interesting!!!.

I remember the past interviews that I  had applied for had been in Australia, assistant coaches roles. I remember thinking that  I was telling them what I thought  they wanted to hear, I vowed I would never do that again and when I got the chance with Yorkshire I just told the interview panel how I wanted to run a team, how I thought the best way forward for Yorkshire would be, and two hours later Frog ( Martyn Moxon) rang me and offered me the position.
I didn't have to take too much time to think about it.
It is the biggest club in the world, club that I played for, and an incredible opportunity for someone like me  with  not  a lot of coaching experience,. how could I not want to be here?
They knew me  and so I accepted,  it was a great opportunity, I had a good relationship with Frog.
Another reason that I accepted it was because the  club had been relegated, hadn't been performing well in first class or in short forms either, looking at the squad  I saw a great group of players, I loved to have the opportunity to try and  help them perform well and  achieve something .
And I'm still here so it must be going OK!



When the season started Yorkshire were 8 men down Captain Gale on suspension, 6 out with England and then Ryan with calf injury, What was your plan of action at the time?

Well it was very simple, everyone could look at it negatively, we were losing all these players, I really saw it as a great chance for us to give some of the young lads a go. Will Rhodes, Alex Lees got to captain the side, we had Pujara as oversea player who did quite well. Young Matt Fisher got a couple of games, I saw it as a positive.
 We knew Jonny was away and I have all the faith in the world with Andrew Hodd I think that he is one of the  best glovemen  in the country.
So I didn't see all doom and gloom, I knew these guys needed to step up and do a job, it was just about giving them a chance to do that, letting them know that they have your support and get them out playing,  fortunately they were able to do that!
Matt Fisher is an absolutely fantastic  young bowler and he is only going to get better for that experience.
Will Rhodes who is not an opener, we saw something in him and  thought  he can do a job for us whilst Lythy is away. So we made it clear to him that this was his position rain hail  or shine, there were 4-5 games and whether he got  ducks, I was going to persevere with him, and I told him, that I was backing him in this job until Lythy's back and we would go from there. it gave him a lot of confidence.

I personally think that you have one of the strongest teams with a good  back up system.

Well it does test our resources when our players are with England and then a couple of injuries, we feel that the plans we have in place, the structure that we have in place, the 2nd XI academy is  our way forward.
We back our players to come through that, and what I say to all the young players is

'You're not here to make up numbers, you are here to perform and do your job, If you get picked for the 1st team you are expected to do the job'

They love that, they know that they will be rated on their performance, it's not work experience, the by product of it is that they are getting experience.And that's great.
They have to go out and perform, get thrown in the deep end in work life , it's  can be sink or swim, and we trust our lads to swim, It gets results

Since 2012 you have taken Yorkshire from Division 2 , to County Champions, what are your aspirations for next season?

Well....

Because we aren't going to talk about the end of this season

Good!!!!
What you have got to remember is, you said 'I ' have taken them, I haven't, its much more of a team effort, the lads have empowered themselves to go and perform, you also can't underestimate Martyn's influence.
They have responded well to their captain and we make sure that there is a lot of clarity about everything that we do, whether its their training, prep, what  we are trying to achieve out there, pretty clear plan when we are bowling, or batting, sort of keep it as simple as possible.
One thing I haven't tried, is to reinvent the wheel by any stretch, because cricket is very simple, its about hitting, catching and bowling. If you keep it as basic as that with a little help along the way, little technical things that you can work on, little tweaks to improve performance, by and large its about attitude. I'm a big one for that, you have to have a good attitude about it..
Its can be hard as cricket is a team game but there are lots of individual things and its how that individual marries that up with team goals, its intertwined, and I think that you need good team spirit.
Some guys in cricket or any sport are there for themselves, that's the nature of the beast.
You have to find the right balance and I think that we have that at Yorkshire.


It's not been a good T20 season for the club, personally I am not too keen on all the 'razzamatazz' of short form cricket, I can see that it is money maker for clubs. How do you see these matches?

They are really important.
My favourite format of the game is the long form of cricket I love Test cricket that's my favourite and First class cricket, but I do like T20. Its something that we have to work on, we just haven't quite got our combinations right, players not quite getting it right, I think  myself as well not quite getting the selections right at times. Its just a combinations of all those really.
We get it right sometimes and not others. I think T20 lends itself to that, if you can get on a roll as we did in 2012. you can go all the way.
We also want to learn from the other teams.
 I am off to coach the Adelaide Strikers in the winter and I am hoping that I can bring something back from there to help Yorkshire.
I think that it will be good we have nothing to lose and everything to gain.


Are you going to bring Glenn Maxwell back next season?

I don't know, I can honestly tell you that  we haven't had any conversations about overseas players at the moment I think we are still pretty excited about the fact that we have signed David Willey.

I was going to actually ask you about that, when I first asked to speak to you it was being rumoured and then it was announced that David was joining you  but if you could choose one other player from around the counties who has caught your eye, who would it be and why?

There are a number of players that catch your eye

*Hints* Jack Shantry 

(laughing) there are a number of players that catch your eye!!!!!, however I will be honest I would rather back our players, but when someone like David Willey comes onto the market and wants to play at Yorkshire, that's just brilliant.

Big thing for him is that he wants to play test cricket and wants to improve his long form game and its a chance for him to work with Ryan, which he wanted.
He didn't come for money there were a number of clubs  offering more financial incentive, but he wants to play Test cricket and feels that coming to Yorkshire is his best way of going someway towards that.
and it was refreshing to hear that it wasn't about money , Dave is brilliant and I am really looking forward to working with him as are all the support staff.

So I take it you didn't look at Jack Shantry?

We haven't looked at Jack Shantry, I  did however play cricket with his brother.

Adam!

Yes Adam lovely bloke, Jacks a lovely bloke, Adam is now coaching at Shrewsbury School.


Yes, he is working with a friend of mine.

Ah  OK,  but no we haven't been going down the Jack Shantry path.

I'm gutted!!!!!

I can tell, you're blushing!!!



I hate to see negative things being said about Yorkshire on social media. My philosophy is that you can't win them all and if you did it would be  very boring! I also don't hold with being abusive about the club you are suppose to support. How do you feel when you see negative things written?

Its very simple for me if there is any thing negative or abusive on social media, its very simple I just block them. There are no second chances, no ifs or buts. I think that social media is really good to get a message out there and promote the club,which is what I do as much as I can.
If there is any negativity towards the club or any of our players or myself then its a  its a block. I just have a very simple block policy.

I keep it simple, any negativity  abuse I just block them and its dealt with.
I even had a letter sent to the club saying 'Please unblock me because I like reading you'
and no I won't unblock you, you shouldn't have done it in the first place.
This is a lesson that needs to be learnt, social media is  something that everyone is still learning about.
Sometimes people have to learn a tough lesson.
Just think  before you tweet, would be my message to people.


Next weekend is the One Day Cup Semis, how  do you see this?

I am just excited for the lads, excited for the club, its a great  opportunity for us to fill the stadium, and opportunity for the players to go out and show their skills really.
For me I am just genuinely excited, I am looking forward to seeing Richards Dawson our former second team coach, who is head coach there and Ian Harvey, I have been delighted with seeing him being successful, BUT  I am hoping that they are not going to be successful come the weekend.
It will be good to see them, I am pleased as punch for them.
From our perspective I am just really excited, lets get out there, lets put on a show,lots of people come and support us, that will be my message to the lads, Lets get out there, its a Semi Final, uncharted territory,lets just go and play.

Can we do 'The Double' 

Look its a long way off lets not speculate on anything like that. we will just go out and play as good cricket as we can.


You are understandable popular on the After Dinner and Q &  A circuit, I know that there is a 'Cricket Dinner with Jason Gillespie' in London in October, do you really enjoy doing these?

I do, doing too many of them I find I get a bit bored with.
 I do Q & A's with my mate Dave Callaghan to raise some money for charity, We try to raise the profile of the club and cricket in general and I never get tired of telling my test double hundred story.

Oh I was going to ask you about that but thought 'no he will be sick of talking about it'!!

Its something that I always talk about in my after dinner speaking.


When the 'other' record  for ' last double hundred  by an Australian on foreign soil' was broken this summer, did you feel any regret?

Ah when Steve Smith did that I wasn't bothered, it was about bloody time, look I shouldn't be holding any batting records.

However the 201  by a number 10 batsman is still a world record and single greatest innings!!!

Have you ever been asked to  officially 'open' a cricket wicket?

Ehhh no!!!!!

Well next time you are passing Newton Aycliffe can you call in  and officially open the 'wicket' in my garden?

*Lots of laughter*  (nervous laughter!!!)


I am actually sitting here talking to one  of my  greatest  cricket heroes, ( and shaking like a leaf),

Thats very kind of you to say.
Relax


Who is your cricket hero?

I love Dennis Lillee I  was fortunate enough when I went to the cricket academy to meet him, I got to spend some time with him  at cricket and socially which was  a surreal time for me.
Really any former Australian cricketers  were heroes  of mine, these guys had done what I wanted to do. I looked up to all of them, I'm a bit of a cricket tragic, a badger, I used to learn every ones averages, how many tests they had played, I've forgotten a lot of it now. I do love my cricket trivia, I love the game.

I'll name a few of my heroes, Dennis Lillee, Merv Hughes, Craig McDermott, you know I got to open the bowling with one of my great heroes who became one of my great mates. Glenn McGrath, a great man and I  consider him a close mate.
From other countries I can't go past  the late, great Malcolm Marshall, who was unbelievable,  he was a wonderful cricketer, a wonderful person, I was lucky enough to meet him a couple of times, he was such a nice bloke  to me in the couple of dealings I had with him. Sadly he is gone, but never forgotten.

In your cricketing life what would you say is your greatest moment/moments.?
Oh I have been really lucky in my cricketing life, playing for Australia, playing for Yorkshire and now coaching Yorkshire.
Playing in an Ashes winning team has to have been  one of the greatest moments.
I have had many great moments.

In my cricketing life this has to have been one of my greatest moments, thank you for taking the time to talk to me and answer some very mundane questions.

*laughing*  My pleasure.

                                    **************************************************

Jason Gillespie, has figured  in my blog from day one and was the absolute perfect interviewee!

I have to say that was the best hour  I have spent in a long time!

My thanks to him for agreeing to talk to me.

Just to mention that yesterday 'My Tykes' wrapped up their match against Somerset, winning by an innings and 126 runs..............................................Little Miss Chatterbox was actually silenced!!!!!

COME ON YOU TYKES!!!!!!!!!

Roll on Sunday and the semi final!!!!


            *****************************************************


Jason was a great sport in agreeing to let me interview him back in 2015. I consider myself incredibly lucky to have been able to spend time with one of my all time heroes.

Have a great day and stay safe.