AUSTRALIAN fast bowler Jason Gillespie is determined to hit the ground running when he arrives at Sophia Gardens.

Gillespie's recent capture ended Glamorgan's arduous search for an overseas player.

The 32-year-old - Australia's fifth highest Test wicket-taker with 259 - no longer possess the fearsome pace that made him one of the best fast bowlers in the world but believes his experience will prove invaluable to Glamorgan.

Gillespie is also a capable lower order batsman, scoring an unbeaten 201 against Bangladesh in his last Test appearance in 2006 and cracking his third first-class hundred against Tasmania last year.

"When I went to England on my first Ashes tour in 1997 I bowled very fast but that was a long time ago," he said.

"These days I can still bowl over 80mph and swing the ball away, but I vary my pace more.

"Fast bowlers need to continually adapt to different conditions and at this stage of my career I've got a lot to offer.

"When Yorkshire released me I always wanted to play for another county.

"It's an exciting time to be a Glamorgan player with the new ground being developed and (Glamorgan cricket manager) Matthew Maynard is working very hard to improve the team.

"I'm certainly looking forward to playing my part in helping the team to improve and passing on my experience to the younger players in the team."

It was thought that Gillespie's Indian Premier League commitments were likely to rule him out of the first two Championship and Friends Provident Trophy matches of the season.

Glamorgan officials have decided against signing a replacement overseas player for the opening month of the season but the situation is becoming increasingly unclear, as Gillespie explains.

The new man has revealed that he is still in the dark as to when his IPL commitments will take precedence over the county season.

At this stage the start of the IPL has still not been locked in, leaving Gillespie and the other contracted world players in limbo.

"Nothing definite has been arranged about when I am going to be playing in the IPL," Gillespie told The Argus.

"The franchise teams are still being set up so at this stage everything is up in the air.

"The IPL could start later than April or May so I might be at Glamorgan for the start of the new season after all."

Gillespie believes planning and preparation is the key to Glamorgan's prospects of overturning the misery of the previous two relegation seasons.

"If we prepare ourselves thoroughly and plan our tactics for every game then we will improve," he said.

Meanwhile, Gillespie hit the headlines for the wrong reasons after he was assaulted in a nightclub, a few hours after playing in a one-day game for South Australia in Traralgon outside Melbourne.

He was treated for minor injuries at a local hospital overnight but will not miss any cricket. Police are investigating.