Club: North City

Wellington Firebirds debut: v Otago Volts 1999-00 (first-class)
Best bowl: 6 for 42 v Central Stags 2007-08 (first-class)

Mark Gillespie made a successful return to cricket throughout the second half of last summer’s domestic season. Gillespie, who missed most of the previous summer with a near career ending back injury, was then forced out at the start of 2010-11 with a separate hip/thigh injury.

Determined as ever, Gillespie fought back to be the leading wicket-taker in last year’s Men’s domestic One-Day competition. In seven matches, he took 17 wickets with a best of 4 for 56. Playing in six Plunket Shield matches that followed, he took another 22 wickets with a best of 4 for 44, while also reaching the milestone of 50 first-class matches.

This season will be wholehearted opening bowler Gillespie’s 13th playing for Wellington. A genuine wicket-taker and specialist death bowler in the one-day form of the game and with a fire and brimstone fast bowler’s attitude, Gillespie can always be counted on to give it his all for the Firebirds.

He starred in the 2005-06 domestic season when he took 43 wickets at an average of 23.16 and subsequently earned his first call-up to the BLACKCAPS.

Gillespie has played 32 One-Day Internationals and three Tests, and has taken over 200 wickets at first-class level. Heading into 2011-12, he is sitting on 99 domestic One-Day wickets.