Gillespie reveals his beef with leather

Jason Gillespie, the Yorkshire coach and former Australia fast bowler, has suggested he would prefer it if cricket balls were not made of leather, in an interview about his veganism.

Speaking to the Yorkshire Post, Gillespie was critical of humans consuming animal products - aiming a volley at one of his club's sponsors, cheese-maker the Wensleydale Creamery. He said that his views on health and nutrition and the treatment of animals had changed after his father died suddenly of a heart attack in 2013.

"My wife and I often talk about it, because she's vegan as well," he said. "I feel like I'm looking through eyes without blinkers on. We treat animals like s**t, we really do. And in my opinion there's no justification for that.

"These slaughterhouses, dairies and piggeries, zoos. It's cruel and it's speciesism at its very worst and I don't want to be part of it.

"Hopefully one day the dairy industry can be shut down. I think it's disgusting and wrong on so many levels. Slaughterhouses too. There are a lot of things we say in this world that are bulls**t. 'Humane slaughter'. No one's been able to explain that to me. How is killing humane?"

Asked about Wensleydale's logo appearing on Yorkshire shirts, Gillespie said: "Yes, they are a sponsor. But it doesn't mean I agree with what they do. It's out of my control, just like the fact that cricket balls are made of leather. I'll have it out with people, I don't care. There's nothing wrong with standing up for what you believe in."

Gillespie, who took 259 Test wickets for Australia, did not explain what he would prefer balls to be made off and it may be some time before the game reverberates to the sound of willow on pleather.