The annual ACS Boxing Day dinner for 2025 was held at Kooyong on Saturday 27th December, the second and unexpectedly last day of the Ashes Test match. Our special guest was Australian fast bowling great Jason “Dizzy” Gillespie.
Members and their guests, 78 in total were welcomed by the tones of didgeridoo player Peter Swain, who attended with regular member, Josie Sangster, director of the Johnny Mullagh Interpretive Centre at Harrow.
Jason Gillespie, the first Indigenous man to represent Australia in Test cricket, played 71 Tests for a return of 259 wickets at an average of 26 and 97 ODIs for 142 wickets at an average of 25. However he is perhaps best remembered for his unbeaten 201 as a night watchman in his final Test played in Bangladesh, despite his brilliant returns as a pacy opening bowler.
Following dinner Dizzy joined our own Ken Piesse to be interviewed about his extensive playing and coaching career and his views on the current state of cricket, particularly in light of the just completed two-day Test at the MCG.
Dizzy had joined us direct from the ABC commentary box, so Ken kicked off the discussion asking Dizzy for his views on the current Test. While acknowledging that the pitch was lively and difficult , Dizzy opined that poor batting techniques had contributed significantly to the poor scores. While conceding the match was entertaining, overall it was not enjoyable. The current mindset of batsman, perhaps influenced by T20, has resulted in a desire to move the game forward without enough consideration for sound defence; a conundrum of entertainment versus technique.
Ken then invited Dizzy to recall his extraordinary achievement in Chittagong, Bangladesh; an undefeated double century. Dizzy provided a very humorous account of dealing with the “snake pit” of a pitch, the wiles of left arm tweaker Mohammad Rafique and the failures of the recognised batsmen.
More broadly Dizzy spoke of the joy of bowling with his hero Glen McGrath, even though he was relegated to bowling uphill or into the wind, despite his superior pace. He saw this as his role in the team and was happy to fulfil it.
Dizzy spoke of his best return of 7 for 37 during the Fourth Test of the 1997 Ashes series at Headingly, Leeds. He explained in an effort to thwart the dominance of spin great Shane Warne the curator had delivered a pace friendly strip which actually played to our other strengths. Australia won by an innings.
This led to a discussion of the great Warnie. Amongst many stories Dizzy recounted how Warnie’s wife Simone on match days would deliver his lunch; a chip (crisps) white bread sandwich.
Dizzy also gave a detailed account of the merits of enforcing the follow-on in India. This related to the Second Test in 2001 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. India having made 171 in the first innings were sent back in. VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid proceeded to bat for over a day for well in excess of 300 for the fifth wicket. Dizzy recalled having played against Laxman from the Under 19s onwards and noted that he almost always made a ton. He was an exquisite batsman. Australia lost that famous game and the follow-on is rarely enforced these days.
In response to a question from the floor about roommates over his time touring, Dizzy revealed that Michael Bevan was largely responsible for the practice of sharing rooms being abandoned. Dizzy gave a humorous account of why this was so, which will remain within the room.
Finally in response to some further questions Dizzy gave his views on Bazball and in doing so revealed some of his philosophies of coaching. He had no problem with players expressing themselves, as long as it was matched by a positive intent and that they took responsibility for their choices and actions. Dizzy also spoke of the humbling experience of coaching Zimbabwe with players on a meagre, poverty line wage.
Dizzy was an absolute delight giving generously of his time and thoughts on his career and beyond.
by ACS Committeeman Keiran Croker