And the 34-year-old spearheaded the the club’s bowling attack in last weekend’s game against NCCC Academy at Northampton Road.

With Malcolm already a regular in the village-based team, it meant two ex-Test cricketers opening the bowling in a Northants League fixture for the first time in its history.

Gillespie holds the record for the highest score for a nightwatchman after he bagged a double-hundred against Bangladesh three years ago, while the previous summer his wild hair made him one of the stand-out players in the dramatic 2005 Ashes series.

Less eye-catching was his Test form in that summer, and while the hairstyle is now a much more conservative short back and sides, Brixworth's Chris Timm is confident the man nicknamed Dizzy still has the old fire.

“He's going to be available for half-a-dozen games for us,” said Timm.

“He's over here because of the Ashes and he was looking to get some cricket under his belt before he goes back to play club cricket in Australia in the winter.

“Devon (Malcolm) set it all up for us. He knows him from the games they play together for Lashings and he asked him if he wanted to sign.

“So we've got our overseas player for the season sorted out, anyway.”

As well as Malcolm and Gillespie, Brixworth have a third former Test player registered this season, but Darren Gough’s diary means he is yet to make an appearance in the county league.

As well as the extra interest the arrival of Gillespie is stirring up at the club, Brixworth are also hoping it will help provide the team with a return to winning ways.

“We've been searching for some time for someone to strengthen our bowling,” he said.

“Obviously we got Darren Gough signed on at the start of the season, but he’s been completely tied up with promotional work for the Ashes.

“So we’ve been a bit short of firepower and Devon has been looking for someone suitable to bring in.”

Timm stresses that Gillespie will not be paid for his time at Brixworth, and that instead he is doing it to remain in form during what is effectively his close season.

It will, of course, raise the club’s profile, but it will also, Timm feels, raise the profile of a league which is possibly stronger than ever with the likes of former Zimbabwe batsman Dion Ebrahim at Stony Stratford, and Sri Lankan Test all-rounder Chamila Gamage a regular for Saints.

“Hopefully it will generate a bit of interest in cricket at Brixworth and get a few people along to watch,” said Timm.

“But as well as being good publicity for us it’s good publicity for the league too.

“We told the players last Tuesday and they were all very excited.

“Everyone was looking forward to playing alongside him and it should be good fun.”