Gillespie backs Strauss decision

The 40-year-old Australian had been the clear frontrunner for the England job until reports on Monday claimed his compatriot Trevor Bayliss was instead the England and Wales Cricket Board's preferred candidate.

Yorkshire coach Gillespie revealed he had been brought up to speed by new ECB director of cricket Strauss and respects the former England captain's choice, telling the Yorkshire Post: "I f I put myself in Andrew's shoes, I'd probably make the same decision, if I'm honest."

The recent consensus was that the ECB would recruit former Australia fast bowler Gillespie in time for this summer's Ashes, but on Monday morning it transpired that former Sri Lanka coach Bayliss was heading the queue instead.

Gillespie told Sky Sports on Monday: ''I've spoken to Andrew Strauss and I'm not that preferred candidate, so that's their call. I think it would have been a good job to have, no question.

" 'There's exciting times ahead for English cricket and it would have been a great challenge, but it's not to be."

The former bowler also said any stance taken by the ECB over Kevin Pietersen's international future would not have been a problem for him had he been offered the England job.

He added in the Yorkshire Post: "They made it very clear they've got a stance - I'm referring to Kev - and I didn't have a problem with it.

"There were no issues and that has nothing to do with it. From my end, I supported the decisions made and when you go into a job, you cannot just come in and say, 'I'm doing this, I'm doing that'.

"You need to get a feel for it, get to know people and understand the role, you can't just come in and go whizz, bang, wallop."

Gillespie, who will also coach Adelaide Strikers in the Australian Big Bash League, stressed he would be concentrating on his coaching duties at county champions Yorkshire, where he foresees "exciting times" ahead.

He added: "These are exciting times for Yorkshire and it's far from all doom and gloom from my point of view.

"We've made it very clear that we want to improve our one-day cricket and we feel as though we've got the squad to compete in all forms of the game."