MidWest Rhinos hope for improved prospects in the forthcoming domestic season after signing former Australian strike bowler, Jason Gillespie, as their new head coach.

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Gillespie will commence his duties with the Kwekwe based franchise at the start of the highly anticipated domestic season beginning in early September.

He takes over from Andrew Waller, who has moved the Harare to be in charge of the national age group coaches.

“We are really excited to have Jason (Gillespie) taking charge of the team. 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,” said MidWest Rhinos CEO, Kenyon Ziehl.

Gillespie played 71 test and 97 one day internationals for Australia. He retired at the end of the 2007-08 season after playing 189 first-class matches. 
For much of last season Rhinos maintained third place in the both the four day and limited over versions of the game. They reached the finals of both competitions. One of Gillespie’s deliverables will be to convert last season’s results to Logan Cup or Metbank Faithwear wins by season end.

“We will rely on his experience and expertise to add more value to the whole franchise especially our bowlers. 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,” said Ziehl.

Gillespie, popularly known by his fans as 'Dizzy' because of his raging pace among other attributes of his fast bowling,  is very excited to be part of the Zimbabwe domestic season. 

“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 up to be in the next Zimbabwe Test squad,” said the Rhinos CEO.