Gillespie to coach MidWest Rhinos

Jason Gillespie, the former Australian fast bowler, is heading to Zimbabwe to take up a position as head coach of the Kwekwe-based MidWest Rhinos franchise. Gillespie's tenure will begin before the start of the domestic season in September, and he replaces Andy Waller - who has moved to Harare to take charge of the national age-group sides - in the role.

"We are really excited to have Jason taking charge of the team," said MidWest Rhinos chief executive Kenyon Ziehl. "It is a tremendous development in the franchise. He played for Australia at the highest levels with the greatest respect and was one of the best bowlers ever to open for Australia."

Gillespie played 71 Tests and 97 one-day internationals for Australia, forming one half of the country's most statistically successful bowling partnerships with Glenn McGrath before retiring at the end of the 2007-08 season. He will be taking over a domestic side that has been firmly ensconced in the middle of the domestic tables, though they managed to reach the finals of the four-day Logan Cup and the Metbank Faithwear one-day competition.

"We will rely on his experience and expertise to add more value to the whole franchise, especially our bowlers," added Ziehl. "He will definitely help us finish the next season with some silverware. Gillespie will help us develop the whole squad so that we produce top class players and our franchise B squad will be a key area for development of the standard of professionalism we expect to reach.

"He [Gillespie] is also keyed up to be in Zimbabwe. He told me that Zimbabwe is on the up and up, and it will be great to have some of the players he will be working with in the next Zimbabwe Test squad."