Gillespie appointed Assistant Coach of Australia A

Former Australian bowling star Jason Gillespie was today appointed Assistant Coach for Australia A's upcoming tour of Zimbabwe, which begins later this month.

Gillespie, who captured 259 Test wickets for Australia in a 10-year international career, will support Head Coach Troy Cooley on the month-long tour, which includes matches in one-day and four-day matches.

Cricket Australia's General Manger Cricket Michael Brown said: "Cricket Australia's elite coach development program was started in 2008 and allows CA to fast track former players who show a desire to ascend to the highest levels of cricket coaching in this country. Justin Langer, Darren Lehmann, and Jason Gillespie were all part of the first wave of former players to be part of this program and they are all now coaching at either national or state level, as is Craig McDermott, another program member. In Jason's case, CA feels this A tour presents a good opportunity to further enhance his elite coaching experience. Jason has recently coached in Zimbabwe and understands the conditions we'll face there. Many of the young upcoming players he'll be working with followed Jason's successful international career as schoolboys."

Commenting on his appointment, 36-year-old Gillespie said: "This is a really good opportunity for me to learn more about coaching at this level from the likes of Troy Cooley. I spent last summer as head coach of MidWest Rhinos in Zimbabwe's first-class system and was recently the bowling coach for Kings XI Punjab in the IPL with coach Michael Bevan and captain Adam Gilchrist. This Australia A tour allows me to further dip my toe into the elite coaching system, to work with some of the best young cricket talent in Australia and to learn from experienced bowling coaches like Troy."

Australia A will play a one-day tri-series involving Zimbabwe and South Africa A, before finishing with two four-day matches against the host. Australia A will depart on 25 June and return on 25 July.

The Australia A squad will assemble at the Centre of Excellence on 6 June for a training camp before departure and Jason Gillespie will be working with the group at that camp.

The one-day squad is :-

The four-day squad is :-

For the Australia A VB Tour of Zimbabwe series page visit www.cricket.com.au/australiaa