BELVOIR has landed a coup ahead of its Cricket Albury-Wodonga Provincial premiership defence with the signature of Irish international Aaron Gillespie.
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The hard-hitting all-rounder will arrive in Australia in late September after representing Ireland at the Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh in February this year.
The Strabane and North West Warriors player has recently been in camp with the Irish open side, which includes big names Ed Joyce and Kevin O’Brien.
Newly-appointed Belvoir coach Josh Warren said Gillespie, 19, would add firepower to the Eagles’ attack as they look to defend their maiden Provincial flag.
He said Gillespie has already been dubbed “Dizzy” by his new Eagles teammates in a nod to former Australian fast bowler Jason.
“It’s super, it’s massive for us,” Warren said.
“It took a lot of late nights and early mornings on Skype and messaging to get him but we’ve finally got it done and we’re over the moon.
“He’s played against the best the under-19s have to offer.
“He’s pretty modest, he just wants to go about his business.
“I think he will fit in really well.”
The Eagles have also signed Wodonga spinner Michael Booth and tall New City bowler Fraser Thomas in a productive off-season.
With two Twenty20 and eight one-day rounds set to be added to the fixture this season, Warren said Booth would be a valuable spin partner for Zac Simmonds.
“He will be vital,” Warren said.
“Him and ‘Simmo’ in the one-dayers and T20 games will be massive for us, he will play a massive role.
“He’s an older head for the 24, 25-year-olds we have around the club.”
The Provincial season will kick off on October 8 with the opening two Saturdays being Twenty20 rounds.
Only five two-day matches will be played this season.
The Eagles will be without Nat Sariman, Brad Freake and Simmonds for the Twenty20 fixtures with the premiership-winning trio not due to return from England until October 18.
English all-rounder Jack Holt is set to return to Australia around Christmas but Warren said it was unclear if he would return to the field for Belvoir.
Warren was confident the Eagles, who have already started pre-season training, could build on their grand final victory over Wodonga.
“They boys have been terrific – they’ve really thrown themselves into training,” he said.
Xavier Mardling
Xavier started at The Border Mail in Albury-Wodonga in 2001, covering sport and general news before moving to the subs' desk. He was editor of his hometown masthead from 2016 to 2020 before swapping the Murray for Merewether. He returned to The Border Mail as editor in 2023.
Xavier started at The Border Mail in Albury-Wodonga in 2001, covering sport and general news before moving to the subs' desk. He was editor of his hometown masthead from 2016 to 2020 before swapping the Murray for Merewether. He returned to The Border Mail as editor in 2023.
