Jason Gillespie joins Indian Premier league of BCCI

Australian fast bowler Jason GillespieMelbourne, Oct 27 : Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie is the latest entrant to join the Indian Premier league (IPL), the professional Twenty20 league venture of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Gillespie is one of the Cricket Australia's 25 contracted players, and said he was excited by the competition.

"I am at this stage of my career where I am looking forward to new challenges," Gillespie said.

"I think this competition will be a lot of fun," The Australian quoted Gillespie, as saying.

Gillespie also said that if he plays for Australia again, it would be in the longer version of the game.

"I have played my last one-day game for Australia, that is for sure, but I believe I can offer something at the Test level if that opportunity arises," he said.

Gillespie, who has played 71 Tests and taken 259 wickets at an average of 26.13, thinks that the selectors would look at younger bowlers for the summer.

"When I was a young fast bowler, the Australian selectors persevered with me and I think they should do the same for whoever is picked," he said.

"It takes a while to find your feet at Test level and I was grateful for the opportunities and I hope selectors do the same now."

The IPL has so far signed 25 foreign players, including Gillespie’s former bowling partner Glenn McGrath.

The Twenty20 competition, consisting of teams under the BCCI, will be held in April 2008. The league has the prize money of three million dollars. (ANI)