Peter Gillespie

Peter Gerard Gillespie (born 11 May 1974) is a Northern Irish former cricketer. A right-handed batsman and right-arm medium pace bowler, including twelve first-class matches and 35 List A matches, four of which were One Day International. Only three players have played more times for Ireland.

Playing career

Early career Born 11 May 1974 in Strabane, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, Gillespie made his debut for Ireland on 6 June 1995 against the Duchess of Norfolk's XI at Arundel Castle. He played the following day against the MCC at Lord's. He played just twice for Ireland in 1996, In the second round match against Hong Kong, he took 3/42, his best bowling figures in all matches for Ireland. and the European Championship. He also represented Northern Ireland in the cricket tournament at the 1998 Commonwealth Games,

2000 to 2004

The 21st century started for Peter Gillespie with a trip to Zimbabwe to play in the ICC Emerging Nations tournament, highlighted by an innings of 74 against Denmark.

He was not selected for the Ireland squad for the 2001 ICC Trophy,

2002 started with a C & G Trophy match against Nottinghamshire He then played in the European Championship and against the MCC and Berkshire. and the West Indies, Ireland's third win over the West Indies, also playing in the European Championship, two matches against Bangladesh, once against the MCC and warmed up with his first century for Ireland, scoring 102 not out against the MCC in June.

Also in 2005, he played against Loughborough UCCE, Warwickshire and Yorkshire,

2006 and onwards

2006 saw Ireland gain One Day International status, and Gillespie played in the first three of Ireland's such games against England, Scotland and the Netherlands.

That year, he also played in all nine of Ireland's C & G Trophy games, and Intercontinental Cup games against Scotland and Namibia. but he only played in the match against Kenya.

He did not play in Ireland's first round matches as they beat Pakistan and tied against Zimbabwe to reach the Super 8 stage, and missed the first two matches in that stage before playing in the third match against New Zealand.

Statistics

In all matches for Ireland up until the 2007 World Cup, Gillespie scored 2599 runs at an average of 27.65, and took 18 wickets at an average of 37.33.

Relations

Gillespie comes from a cricketing family, with three other members of his family all playing for Strabane, his club side in Ireland. His brother Mark also represented Ireland internationally.