Stu Gillespie was a journeyman medium-pace bowler and tailend batsman whose international call-up came relatively late in what had been an ordinary career. His first season in 1979-80 was his best - he took 45 wickets at 22.17 - but after four years with Northern Districts he moved to Auckland, primarily as a one-day specialist - with moderate success. If his call-up for the 1985-86 Benson & Hedges series in Australia was a surprise - he performed admirably taking 13 wickets at 20.38 - his selection for the first Test against Australia at Wellington later that summer was amazing as Gillespie had played only two first-class games in the previous two years, and done nothing remarkable in either. He took 1 for 79 without ever looking to have anything special and was discarded. He retained his one-day place for two more series but retired soon after losing his place.
Martin Williamson