Gillespie, Bond, Marshall cleared for County season

LONDON—Shane Bond, Jason Gillespie and Hamish Marshall are among a raft of overseas players who been given clearance by the ECB to play in county cricket this season, ending weeks of speculation over whether they would be permitted to join after playing in the unauthorised Indian Cricket League.
The ECB’s ruling was disclosed after a meeting on Tuesday. It had originally said that no overseas players would be allowed without a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their home board, effectively ruling out anyone who had signed with the ICL. However, Gillespie is no longer an Australia player, so he didn’t need an NOC from Cricket Australia, as a spokesman. “We have not issued an NOC to Jason Gillespie as he is no longer contracted in Australia and so CA has no jurisdiction to grant or withhold consent to him playing anywhere else in the world.” Bond missed New Zealand’s recent Test series against England, but will now turn out for Hampshire as a designated overseas player, as opposed to a Kolpak signing. He steps into the shoes of Hampshire’s former captain, Shane Warne, who announced his first-class retirement at the end of last month.
Marshall, meanwhile, has been allowed to register for Gloucestershire this season, subject to receipt of the necessary paperwork.
His application as a Kolpak player had initially been refused because he last played for New Zealand on April 8, 2007, during the latter stages of the World Cup. The cut-off date for applicants was April 1, but in his instance the ECB were willing to exercise their discretion. “We are delighted that Hamish can play,” said Gloucestershire’s chairman, Tom Richardson. “We can now kick off the season with a full batting line up.” Marshall himself was equally relieved. “I am extremely pleased that my registration has been approved by the ECB,” he said. “It has been a weight on my shoulders for the last couple of weeks and I am pleased I can now concentrate on my cricket and help make this a great year for Gloucestershire.”
Gillespie, whose Cricket Australia contract was obviously not renewed on Wednesday after announcing his retirement from state and international cricket, is now likely to make his Glamorgan debut against Middlesex at Lord’s on April 23. He has previously played for Yorkshire.

—Agencies