Cricket: 'Cannon' effective weapon - and not just at death

The man who has done more than any other to turn Mark Gillespie from a 'loose cannon' into an international bowler is urging caution ahead of the Champions Trophy.

Vaughn Johnson, who has been working with the medium pacer over the past eight seasons, said he would be "surprised" to see Black Caps coach John Bracewell thrust Gillespie straight into the death bowling role.

When Bracewell announced the 14-man squad, he highlighted Gillespie's skills at bowling in the final overs - an area that has turned from nagging headache to migraine in the New Zealand set-up.

"He thoroughly deserves his place in the squad and his skills as a specialist death bowler will extend our depth in this area."

But Johnson would not want to see Gillespie thrown to the wolves, or the Tendulkars, Laras and Pontings too soon.

"I hope Braces looks after him a bit in that regard," he said. "I don't think he'll throw him in without a paddle but he has shown he can bowl under pressure."

There is no bigger pressure as a bowler than bowling at the close of an innings when the big push is on. Many have tried it for the Black Caps in the recent past and few have mastered it.

Shane Bond is an obvious candidate for one end but, unfortunately, he can't bowl from both ends.

Gillespie seems willing, telling NZPA: "I've been hurt before at the death. It's a hit and miss time of the game but it's a part of the game I love.

"The key is knowing at the top of your mark what you're doing: Keep it simple, follow through with it and trust yourself."

And despite Johnson's caution, he said Gillespie has the tools for the job.

"He assumed that role for [Wellington] in the past two or three years and each year he got better and better at it. He now has the ability to get the ball in the [block] hole."

Gillespie's main strength, it would seem, is his ability to swing the ball both ways. Johnson said a high percentage of his wickets came from his ability to go wide on the crease and swing the ball "prodigiously" back into the right-hand batsman after previously setting them up with a diet of away swingers.

"The other thing is, when he's getting it right, he's as quick as anyone in the country aside from [Shane] Bondy. He gets to 140 [km/h]; he can bowl a heavy ball.

"The number of wickets he's taken domestically is not a fluke. He's taken that many wickets because he is a fine bowler."

Johnson describes the 26-year-old Gillespie as "a bit different". More than most, Johnson has had to chew him out over certain aspects of his preparation over the years.

"He's starting to become quite an intelligent bowler. In a cricket sense, he's got quite a good brain. He's a bit loose at times but he's a good kid. He's had a fair few bollockings over the years and hopefully that's done him some good.

"But he can be a bit different. He's one reason I've got no hair."