“The PCB went out and made some changes after that test,” Gillespie said before the third test. “It was decided that a new selection committee would come and they would make decisions. I wasn’t involved in the decision-making, I was just there. Now I’m just the coach in the game-day strategy. I just follow. “Now leave things and concentrate in the players and prepare them for cricket.
It’s a noticeably different assignment than Gillespie was given when he was offered the role earlier this year. At the time, he told Pak Gazette that he had some “really positive conversations” with the board and the president to make sure that “we are going in the right direction in the short, medium and long term.”
When asked about the makeup of the team, Gillespie repeated the point. “It’s not my place to talk about that now. I’m not a coach anymore, so I’m probably not the person to ask.” Cornered into a role that has a much narrower focus than his initial job description suggested, he did indicate that he understood how unusual his situation was. “I’m getting splinters in my ass from sitting here on the fence,” he joked.
But with a possible series victory against England on the line, Gillespie did not overlook the importance of the final test. In his short time as a coach, he has developed positive relationships with several players on the team, paying as much tribute to their qualities as human beings as to their cricketing talent.
“In recent years, Pakistan Test cricket has not been where we would like it to be. Any win is great and any series win is fantastic. Coming into this environment, as a coach, I am very protective of the players. “They’re the ones that go out and represent their country. I guess there’s a father in me that goes out and I want to protect all the kids from all the outside noise and whatever.”
When England responded, they made light work of the spinners in the first 40 overs, and held themselves poised for a significant first innings lead when they reached 211 for 2. But in the dry embers of Day 2, Sajid Khan slowed the pace, found the tough and sparked a collapse that helped Pakistan take a decisive 75-run lead.
“There are a lot of things in professional sports that you can’t control,” Gillespie said. “Being able to just park that and not focus on that is a skill in itself. Focusing on what we can control, the right things at the right times and staying calm when everything is happening. The way England played, They looked like I think we did very well in the last Test match. I was very proud of the boys.
“You communicate with your players regularly, talk about their games and how we can help them improve as cricketers and as people. I am very fortunate, I have a wonderful support staff who have developed very good relationships with our players. Sometimes I’ll gravitate more toward certain coaches than others, but if everyone works as a team, that’s the most important thing.”
