jason gillespie

Born: 19.04.1975
State: South Australia
Tests: 71
Role: Bowler
Bat: Right-hand
Bowl: Right-arm medium-fast
Bat Average: 18.73
Bowl Average: 26.13

The first acknowledged Aboriginal to play Test cricket for Australia, Jason Gillespie's international career appeared to be over after a miserable Ashes campaign in 2005, where he took just three wickets at over 100 runs apiece.

But Gillespie promised to return and fittingly for such a tenacious cricketer he did it, against Bangladesh in early 2006.

He took eight wickets in the two matches, but the series will always be remembered for his astonishing double-hundred in Chittagong, easily the highest score ever made by a nightwatchman.

It was an innings that showed the virtue of his consistent hard work.

He always seems an unlucky bowler despite his 259 Test scalps. He moves the ball prodigiously both ways, and seems to ellicit more plays-and-misses than any other fast man. He has also suffered with frequent injuries.

Despite his recent troubles, his record demands respect. He is the fifth most successful Australian bowler of all time, and his partnership with Glenn McGrath is statistically the best new-ball pairing ever to don the baggy green.

He returned with a remodelled action and shortened run-up, but England treated him disdainfully last summer and, with the likes of Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Clark and Shaun tait pushing for inclusion, it seems unlikely that Gillespie will be exposed again to Ashes combat.