MEMORIES of the Ashes Test at Edgbaston last year will come flooding back for Jason Gillespie tomorrow when he pays a return visit to the ground.

On that occasion he finished up on the losing side, but this time he is determined to be a winner on his debut appearance for Yorkshire in their Championship encounter with Warwickshire.

Having lost the first Test at Lord's last summer by the massive margin of 239 runs, England were in danger of making a hash of the series but at Edgbaston they hit back sensationally and on a nerve-racking fourth morning they scraped home by two runs.

Gillespie was part of the dazed Aussie team that day but he was out of touch last summer and after the third Test at Old Trafford, when Australia's last wicket pair of Lee and Glenn McGrath this time clung on for the draw, he was dropped by his country and did not return until their recent two-match Test series in Bangladesh.

Now Gillespie's career has been revitalised and he will be in a far happier mood when he arrives at Edgbaston tomorrow than when he left it last year.

"It was a big disappointment for Australia losing by just two runs but it didn't do cricket any harm because interest in the game became huge after that. It was a match I will never forget - hard fought with plenty of twists and turns.

"But that Ashes series is behind us now and I just want to look forward to a good summer with Yorkshire in which I take lots of wickets. I am not setting myself any targets but I believe that if you enjoy your cricket and have a good time then you will succeed."

Gillespie obviously hopes that some outstanding performances this summer will help him win back his Ashes place in Australia later this year but he's trying to push any such thoughts to the back of his mind.

"I would love to say 'yes, I think I will be picked' because playing for the Ashes again would be awesome but all that is a long way off and I just want to concentrate on doing well for Yorkshire for the time being."

Gillespie made Test history in Bangladesh last week by becoming the first ever nightwatchman to plunder a double century.

His Yorkshire team-mate and South Australia captain Darren Lehmann said that he would not be mentioning the double hundred to Gillespie because he would go on and on about it.

They were remarks which, when retold, brought a big grin to Gillespie's face. "I will certainly be milking it for all it is worth with Darren - and reminding him that it is a bigger Test score than he ever made."

It was Lehmann, Gillespie's captain with South Australia, who told him in the winter that Yorkshire may be interested in signing him.

"My ears pricked up at that and I thought it would be a great opportunity to play Championship cricket," said Gillespie. "Lehmann is one of my best mates, I know Whitey (Craig White) reasonably well and once I had spoken to David Byas I knew Yorkshire was the county for me.

"I play positive, aggressive cricket to win and I hope I can contribute to many Yorkshire victories. I want to take a lot of wickets but if I bowl well and they come at the other end then I will be just as happy with that.

"Naturally, I hope that Australia will want me for the Ashes series in Australia later on this year but all that is a long way off and for the next few months I just want to concentrate on doing well for Yorkshire."

Updated: 09:36 Tuesday, April 25, 2006