Gillespie confident Mitchell Starc will return to Headingley (From Gazette & Herald)

Gillespie confident Mitchell Starc will return to Headingley

10:10am Tuesday 24th July 2012 in Sport By Graham Hardcastle

Yorkshire fans could be set to see a lot more of overseas duo Mitchell Starc and David Miller in the future if coach Jason Gillespie has his way.

Although Starc's availability for Yorkshire duty this summer is still up in the air beyond tomorrow’s Friends Life t20 quarter-final against Worcestershire, Gillespie is confident his fellow Australian will be back at Headingley in the coming years.

It is exactly the same situation with South African batsman Miller, who has also excelled in his spell as their specialist t20 signing.

“I’m really hoping that we can develop long-term relationships with those guys because I’m a big one for continuity,” revealed Yorkshire’s first-team coach.

“Yorkshire were blessed to have Darren Lehmann come back seven times at various stages. That’s down to a really strong link with the club, player and board. I think there’s potential to do the same with Mitchell Starc and David Miller.”

As things stand, it would be easier to secure Miller’s services for 2013 seen as he is not currently in South Africa’s senior plans, whereas Starc has just forced his way back into Australia’s limited overs squads and also played in their last Test.

“What we’re trying to do is forge a really good relationship with Cricket Australia and Mitchell,” explained Gillespie.

“Then there’s the potential for him to come and play here again when there’s an Australian winter with not much on.

“He’s put an incredible amount of effort in, even before he got here having had to go back to Australia to sort out his visa. As a club, we’d like to think that we've looked after him as well. If we look after him now, like we have done, it will help us in the future.

“Hopefully Cricket Australia will say ‘Mitchell performed well and got into some really good form – and Yorkshire looked after him. Their strength and conditioning coach looked after him, their coaches looked after him’.

“Then, when Yorkshire ring up next time needing him, they could say ‘you know what, here you are, have him again’.

“How many Australian quicks are playing county cricket at the moment? They’ve been very reluctant in the past to send fast bowlers over here, but we’ve got one of their brightest prospects. That tells you a lot.”

Yorkshire will have to do without the services of Tim Bresnan for tomorrow’s match after England ordered him to rest ahead of next Thursday’s second Test against South Africa at Headingley.