Wiser after ban, Gibbs back in squad for Test

Wiser after ban, Gibbs back in squad for Test
Agence France Presse

Cape town, January 1: Herschelle Gibbs was recalled to the South African team today, the day a six-month ban from international cricket for conspiring in match-fixing expired.

Gibbs will open the batting in the second Test against Sri Lanka which starts at Newlands tomorrow. He replaces Boeta Dippenaar in the only change from the side that drew the first Test in Durban last week.

Rushdi Magiet, convenor of the South African selectors, said the decision of the panel to recall Gibbs was unanimous. “He has served his time and he is the best man for the job,” said Magiet. Although the team was picked on Saturday, the announcement was delayed until Gibbs’ ban expired.

Gibbs, 26, was banned for six months and fined 60,000 rand ($ 7,932) by a three-man United Cricket Board disciplinary committee headed by former judge Mervyn King. He was fined for agreeing to an offer of $ 15,000 by former captain Hansie Cronje to score fewer than 20 runs in a one-day international against India in Nagpur in March. Gibbs says he has learned his lesson after serving a six-month ban for his part in the Hansie Cronje scandal.

“I’ve had a lot to think about over the last seven months or so and I’d be a fool to say that I didn’t learn a lesson from it all,” Gibbs said after being recalled to the South African side on Monday for the second Test against Sri Lanka.

“It (accepting Cronje’s offer) was the biggest mistake of my life and I and all other cricketers around the world will not be making the same mistake again,” Gibbs said on Monday.

Gibbs said he was taken a back when he received a call from the convenor of selectors Rushdie Magiet on Sunday telling him to prepare himself mentally for playing Test cricket again.

“It was a bit of a surprise as I thought I would be picked for one-day internationals first. But I’ve been given the chance to make a new start and I want to make the most of it and be more professional this time. It’s great to be representing my country again, with all the honour and prestige that goes with that.”

South African captain Shaun Pollock was pleased to have Gibbs back in the side. “Herschelle is a class player, with a proven record who hasperformed for his country in the past,” Pollock said. “It’s been a frustrating period for him but it’s great to have him back and I’m sure he’ll be around for a hell of a long time in the future.”