Jason Gillespie doesn’t want to replace Justin Langer as Australian coach

Former Test fast bowler Jason Gillespie has reached out to Justin Langer after his messy exit as Australian coach but doesn’t want to replace him.

Gillespie, coach of South Australia and the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash who is among a list of candidates to replace Langer given his strong coaching history in England and Australia, labelled the end of Langer’s tenure as “heartbreaking”.

But he said was not “putting myself up for any job” as he eyes off a return to the Sheffield Shield season with the Redbacks on Wednesday.

“It’s nice to be thought of in that way, but it’s certainly something I am not even thinking about entertaining,” Gillespie said on Tuesday in Adelaide.

“Everyone has been pretty disappointed with how it has all played out – pretty heartbreaking to see, to be honest. But unfortunately, it is what it is.

“Justin has handled himself very well … the decision has been made and whatever decision they make, they make.”

Gillespie said Langer was “OK” having reached out to his former national teammate and praised him for the job he had done.

“Justin will go on and do wonderful things that we all know he can,” he said.

“He has done a fine job with Australian cricket the last four years and we all wish him really well because he will succeed in whatever he puts his mind to.”

Gillespie didn’t join the chorus of Langer’s former teammates to heavily criticise Cricket Australia for its handling of the situation, which included offering just a six-month contract extension on the back of victories at the T20 World Cup and the Ashes.

But he did say things “probably could have been handled better”.

xjmtzyw“He felt he had something to offer Australian cricket. Cricket Australia felt differently,” Gillespie said.

“So move on, that‘s part and parcel I suppose of being in professional sport and being a coach.”