By IANS
Melbourne : Former Australian paceman Jason Gillespie is anguished at Cricket Australia ‘s (CA) decision to slap a ban on its first-class cricketers who join the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL).
“It is a little bit disappointing (that) players can’t play ICL and play first-class in Australia,” said Gillespie, who announced his retirement Friday to join ICL.
“But the ICC makes the decisions and there’s not much we can do about it,” Gillespie was quoted as saying in The Australian.
Gillespie said ICL suited him at this point of his career because it meant he could spend more time with his family. According to The Australian his three-year ICL contract is thought to be worth more than $300,000.
“This opportunity came up and it was too good an opportunity to turn down. I was not sure whether I was going to play another year for South Australia. This opportunity came up and I wanted to explore it,” he said.
When asked to nominate his best bowling performances, Gillespie said he preferred to remember “winning games” and “spending time with mates in the dressing-room afterwards”.
“I’m stoked that I had an opportunity to represent Australia and having that opportunity is something I will cherish.”
Making his Test debut against the West Indies at Sydney in 1996, Gillespie went on to take 259 Test wickets at 26.13, with a best of 7-37.