Cricket: Quiet destroyer in right groove again

BRISBANE - Jason Gillespie isn't the sort of bloke who takes things for granted.

The 26-year-old South Australian ranks as one of the world's best fast bowlers and is so highly respected on this side of the ditch that he - rather than speed merchant Brett Lee - shares the new ball with Glenn McGrath.

A man of few words, Gillespie has been one of Australia's most influential players in recent times, yet he retains a low-key demeanour, only breaking out of his shell when he has the ball in hand and an opposition batsman in his sights.

Were it not for a horror-run of injuries, he almost certainly would have bettered his present tally of 102 test wickets.

But time is still on his side and he has not been slow making up for lost opportunities.

His setbacks included a broken arm, stress fractures in his left foot, hamstring rips, back problems, and the most debilitating of the lot, a broken leg suffered in Sri Lanka after a sickening collision between he and Steve Waugh.

The impact, which broke Waugh's nose, left Gillespie on the sideline for the entire 1999-2000 summer, and impressed on him the principle of "no tomorrows" - the idea of living each day to its fullest potential.

"I go out there and play each game as if it's my last," Gillespie says. "You never know when it's all going to finish, so I just enjoy playing and don't look too far ahead.

"I just take it one day at a time. There's no use second-guessing the future, so you're better off concentrating on the job at hand. It's about what's happening now, rather than what's in the past or the future."

Although lauded for his performance this year, the no-nonsense paceman was unhappy with his Ashes form and believed he was too inconsistent in England, something he promised to address in the series against New Zealand.

Gillespie, who is playing in his 22nd test, said he was possibly trying too hard and as a consequence struggled to bowl a consistent line and length, although he still managed to end up with 19 wickets for the series, including a five-wicket bag at Lord's.

Australian captain Waugh reckoned Gillespie was being a bit tough on himself, saying the right-armer was rated among the top fast bowlers in world cricket.

"I thought Gillespie was our best bowler in the first three 'live' tests,"

Waugh said. "He was outstanding.

"He also took eight wickets for South Australia against New South Wales the other day and is capable of continuing in that sort of vein.

"I'll give you the tip - we've got no worries with Jason. As far as the bowlers going around the circuit today are concerned, he's as good as there is."

Former Australian captain Greg Chappell is another who believes Gillespie is about to take the fast bowling world by storm.

Now the coach at South Australia, Chappell says that if Gillespie's body can hold together, history will record him as one of the elite pace bowlers to have played the game.

"His record will show he is top drawer," Chappell said. "If he stays fit he will prove to be one of the best.

"Jason is a quality individual and a bowler who has a huge desire to be successful."

Chappell also suggested that the time Gillespie had spent out of the game through injury could end up extending his career.

"I said to him when he was in hospital that his run of injuries would actually prolong his career," Chappell said.

"Most fast bowlers produce their best between 25 and their early-30s, so I wouldn't be surprised if we see a lot more of Jason Gillespie."