Tykes lifted by coach’s early arrival (From York Press)

Yorkshire lifted by Jason Gillespie’s early arrival

11:00am Tuesday 24th January 2012 in Yorkshire County Cricket Club

Jason Gillespie is expected to take up his new role as first-team coach with Yorkshire next week after agreeing an early release from his MidWest Rhinos contract in Zimbabwe.

The 36-year-old Australian was expected to arrive at Headingley shortly before the White Rose county depart for a two-week pre-season tour of Barbados on March 12.

But when he spent an initial week with the county in December, he said that he hoped he could arrive earlier depending on contract issues with the Rhinos and the work permit process running smoothly.

It will be a major boost for captain Andrew Gale and director of professional cricket Martyn Moxon, who has just arrived back from a spell helping to coach the England Lions in Bangladesh.

Gillespie is the last of the three new coaches to arrive at Headingley, with Paul Farbrace and Richard Damms starting work alongside Moxon and Ian Dews at the start of December.

Skipper Gale said: “We thought Jason wasn’t going to come until March, but he’s managed to get out of his contract in Zimbabwe early. He will arrive at the start of February.

“He wants to come over as soon as possible and get his teeth stuck into the job.

“Being around that little bit earlier will do him and us the world of good.”

Moxon, who was back in work with the county last week, has been working alongside ECB performance director David Parsons on the Lions one-day and Twenty20 tour of Bangladesh, which concluded at the weekend.

“Martyn’s one of the most highly rated coaches in the country,” added Gale, who recently became a father for the first time to a baby girl called Ada Mae.

“To give him the taste of an England set-up is good for all parties – for England, for him and for Yorkshire. Hopefully he can bring a few ideas back to integrate into our squad.”

Gillespie’s final fixture in charge of the Rhinos started yesterday, a four-day clash with Mashonaland.

Gary Ballance, with four hundreds to his name, is captaining the Rhinos.