When Herschelle Gibbs was on the sphere, it was an immersive expertise for everybody, writes the Cricket Paper’s Mohan Harihar.
He’s a person that wants no introduction. Nonetheless, I’d be remiss if I didn’t give him one anyway.
Between 2002 and 2008, Gibbs – alongside Graeme Smith – fashioned one half of South Africa’s most prolific opening partnership in Check cricket (2,983 runs in 56 innings at a median of 56.28, with seven 100-run stands).
On the Worldwide Cricket Council 50-over World Cup in 2007, Gibbs turned the primary participant in historical past to hit six sixes in an over in worldwide cricket when he achieved the feat in opposition to the Netherlands.
His 175 off 111 balls on the Wanderers – dubbed the ‘Bullring’ for its intimidating ambiance – in opposition to Australia in 2006, on the peak of their powers, remains to be broadly thought-about the best ODI innings of all time.
It was an innings that noticed the Proteas accomplish the not possible, chasing 434 to win – the then world report set within the first innings of the match, mere moments earlier than Gibbs’ heroics – at a time when such scores have been the stuff of solely the wildest desires.
He was a trailblazer on the high of the order and a trendsetter within the discipline within the 30-yard circle.
An all-round sportsman with a penchant for producing the spectacular, Gibbs stays one of the electrifying personalities to come back out of the Rainbow Nation.
Earlier than the interview, I mentioned: “Herschelle, simply reply from the center.”
In line with his taking part in profession, unafraid to march to the beat of his personal drum, he cheekily replied: “Candy, bud. That’s the one means I do know anyway”.
On this unique interview on behalf of 10bet, Herschelle Gibbs discusses South Africa’s staff unity, the joy round Kwena Maphaka, Dewald Brevis and Matthew Breetzke, and countering Harry Brook’s Bazballian white-ball groups forward of three ODIs and three T20Is.
He additionally talks about how the artwork of limited-overs spin bowling in India and Sri Lanka can be a special beast on the T20 World Cup in 2026.
WATCH THE CRICKET PAPER PODCAST HERE
Q: For the reason that 2023 ODI World Cup in India, South African cricket has loved sustained success throughout codecs. The boys have been semi-finalists in 2023, finalists in 2024 on the T20 World Cup and not too long ago gained the World Check Championship (WTC).
Out of your vantage level as somebody who’s near South African cricket, and given your standing within the sport as each an ex-player and coach throughout varied gigs, have you ever seen a change in tradition or taking part in panorama inside South Africa that has contributed to this excessive stage of efficiency and, within the case of the WTC, some much-deserved silverware?
Herschelle Gibbs: “Yeah, it’s an attention-grabbing query truly.
“Almost about our previous and large scarcity of silverware, I feel the final couple of years have been loads higher.
“I feel on the subject of our ODI staff and Check squad, the assorted coaches have saved the backbone, or the core, of the 2 squads collectively for fairly some time and added gamers who’ve been on the fringes for some time.
“I feel that the core of gamers in each squads have clearly received a bit extra expertise, perhaps taking a bit extra duty with their locations within the staff and their performances.
“You’ve received the brand new coach, Shukri Conrad, and the batting coach, Ashwell Prince.
“I feel guys have simply put their fingers up and there’s loads of unity in each the squads. Clearly with Temba [Bavuma] being captain of the Check and ODI groups, his batting has led by instance which is a large step from a captain’s perspective.
“So far as our bowlers are involved, we’ve typically at all times had a powerful bowling unit in each ODIs and Check cricket – in Check cricket, particularly taking part in in South Africa.
“We’ve not had loads of Check cricket over the past two or three years in South Africa.
“However I feel the core of the gamers have gelled very well and there’s simply loads of unity within the two squads, and you’ll see the best way they’ve fought hell for leather-based on the sphere regardless of who they performed in opposition to, whether or not they’ve been in South Africa or overseas.
“Clearly the T20 World Cup final yr wasn’t the best, however such as you mentioned, they made up for it within the WTC.
“If I might put my finger on it, I simply assume [it’s] the unity – taking part in for each other – and guys elevating their fingers, particularly the skilled gamers. [Aiden] Markram, [Kagiso] Rabada, [Temba] Bavuma, all put their fingers up and tried to make a distinction and it has clearly helped within the final couple of years.”
For unique tales and all of the detailed cricket information you want, subscribe to The Cricket Paper web site, digital version, or newspaper from as little as 14p a day.
Q: Three gamers who’ve actually caught the attention within the final yr or so have been Kwena Maphaka, Dewald Brevis and Matthew Breetzke, all of whom have made a significant impression of their quick careers thus far. Additionally they excelled at varied factors through the current T20 and ODI sequence in Australia.
For England followers who don’t know a lot about them but – and I’m certain they’ll find out about them quickly – what are you able to inform us about what makes every of them so good and so harmful?
Herschelle Gibbs: “I’ll begin with the youthful one, Maphaka. Clearly [he’s] an enormous discover and had a fantastic Underneath-19 World Cup.
“He’s received good tempo and good wheels on him. He’s nonetheless uncooked, however I feel that tempo is pure. There aren’t many guys nowadays who’re bowling constantly above 150kph. The blokes can nonetheless get it on the market at 140kph+ fairly recurrently.
“I feel from his [Maphaka’s] perspective, he’s uncooked and nonetheless very early in his worldwide profession and clearly discovering his ft. He additionally received nice expertise final yr within the IPL.
“He’s surrounded by Rabada and [Marco] Jansen, so he [Maphaka] can clearly feed off them on the subject of recommendation et cetera.
“With him, he’s simply uncooked tempo. His selection and change-ups will are available in time. However at this stage he’s nonetheless working himself out. I imply, he’s solely 19 years outdated. He has mild years forward of him.
“He has simply made a fantastic impression together with his uncooked tempo and his management, and I feel his understanding of how he desires to bowl will include time.
“Dewald Brevis, strolling in his function mannequin’s footsteps, AB de Villiers, is a superb ball striker, oozing with confidence in the intervening time and in a wealthy vein of kind.
“He’s one other thrilling prospect. How they’re utilizing him in T20s and ODIs, I assumed I caught a glimpse of their considering so far as the coach, batting coach and perhaps the captain are involved.
“I nonetheless assume there gained’t be a set batting place for him. If you find yourself as versatile as he’s, you’ll be able to use him as you wish to primarily based on the scenario of the sport.
“It could be worthwhile giving him a shot at quantity three or opening the batting – he’s such an exquisite ball striker.
“However he’s doing the job decrease down the order so you possibly can’t actually blame him for something. Thus far, so good. He has carried out wherever he’s batted, the identical with Breetzke.
“He [Breetzke] will get in and appears like he desires to get a whole lot. It virtually jogs my memory of that old style mentality while you stand up the order. It’s good to get the 60s, 70s and 80s, but it surely’s good to see a man who’s hungry for a whole lot.
“It separates all of the greats of the sport [from the rest] regardless of what format they performed. It was at all times concerning the a whole lot that they made.
“Breetzke, for me, seems hungry. He’s discovering his ft, however could be a little bit of a dasher. He takes some time to get in, however most opening batters do. Should you get off to a flyer so far as a gap batter is worried, it’s virtually like a godsend. It’s not one thing that occurs too typically.
“He cuts and pulls, and is sweet on the entrance foot too. He’s a great all-round participant.
“Lhuan-dre Pretorius, the left hander, hasn’t performed too many video games as but however has performed extra within the T20s. He didn’t go too properly in Zimbabwe, however these are the small margins in T20 cricket.
“However these 4 [Maphaka, Brevis, Breetzke and Pretorius] are clearly going to be round for the subsequent 10 or 15 years, no less than. They’re going to play loads of worldwide cricket, hopefully, and never too many leagues.
“I’d love them to play extra worldwide cricket and never fear concerning the leagues, that’s for certain. However I feel they’ve all made nice begins to their worldwide careers. Your first yr (or two) is at all times a bit of bit simpler as a result of the bowlers are nonetheless sussing you out as to the place your weaknesses are.
“[After the first year] you get to see how good you’re on completely different surfaces so far as the batting is worried.
“So far as the sequence in opposition to England is worried, will probably be a great take a look at for Brevis, particularly. He had a few video games within the [T20] Vitality Blast during which he did fairly properly.
“However in September, loads will rely on the climate, particularly up north. It’d flip a bit, it would nip round, you by no means know. It will likely be a great take a look at for him, however he’s filled with confidence in the intervening time and really a lot on a excessive.”
Q: Talking of turning pitches, the subsequent T20 World Cup in February 2026 will not be distant, that too in India and Sri Lanka, the place spin will play an enormous function. With the announcement of each England and South Africa’s limited-overs sides this summer season, we’ve seen the number of quite a few spinners, lots of whom can bat – Senuran Muthusamy, Keshav Maharaj, Rehan Ahmed and Liam Dawson, to call just a few.
Shukri Conrad has come out and mentioned “it’s ultimate in the event you can stack your aspect with as many all-rounders as potential”. This would possibly imply the likes of Tabraiz Shamsi, a bowler that could possibly be extraordinarily impactful in Indian and Sri Lankan circumstances, lacking out as a result of his batting will not be fairly as much as the usual of his rivals.
Do you agree that except a bowler can bat properly, they shouldn’t be included in a limited-overs aspect in 2025? Or is there nonetheless benefit this present day in selecting your finest bowlers even when it would imply depleting the batting?
Herschelle Gibbs: “Search for me, I nonetheless assume you want 5 or 6 specialist batters in ODIs. Possibly not a lot within the T20s, however within the ODIs undoubtedly as a result of it’s clearly an extended format and it’s important to stretch the innings out.
“Of the spinners that you simply talked about, it’s humorous as a result of George Linde, for me, is our greatest spinner that may bat. He’s been missed, sadly. He’s performed very well within the video games he has performed. He’s been a number one spinner and made runs within the leagues, so it’s unhappy he hasn’t performed extra video games, particularly with the T20 World Cup arising subsequent yr.
“I feel the ship has kind of sailed for Shamsi. I feel Maharaj has put up his hand, Muthusamy is there too. Bjorn Fortuin is one other left-arm spinner who will not be within the squad but in addition there on the fringes.
“However George Linde is the one man that bats higher than all of them. So, it’s unhappy he’s not within the combine. It’s very stunning.
“However in saying that, Keshav has performed very well even in Australia the place it didn’t actually flip. He bowled very well and also you couldn’t discover a solution to get him away with balls that have been lifeless straight.
“He’s mixing up his flight and tempo, and line, and did the trick in Australia. However going ahead for the T20 World Cup, George Linde has to come back into the image. It’s simply unhappy he’s not in there, however that’s wanting from the skin in.
“For me, what else does Shamsi supply within the discipline if he’s not bowling properly? That, for me, is the deciding issue when it comes all the way down to selecting these guys.
“Guys at all times must be match. I at all times harp on this topic. You’re not solely within the staff in your bowling or your batting. Fielding performs such an enormous half, particularly in T20 cricket.
“And our requirements have dropped within the final couple of years so far as our fielding is worried, which isn’t nice. However they’re all issues that add up. If we wish to win the ODI or T20 World Cup, we’ve received to attempt to be the very best within the discipline as properly and never simply with bat and ball.
“Subsequent yr [at the T20 World Cup] there could be some high-scoring encounters in India. The wickets will in all probability flip a bit extra in Sri Lanka, however I count on some actually excessive scores subsequent yr.
“In saying that, we’d see it spin, we’d not see it spin. You don’t actually see balls turning prodigiously anymore in T20s particularly. It actually can take a little bit of flip in ODIs, however I don’t assume it’s sufficient spin, or there’s sufficient time to make it flip, in T20 cricket.
“So the fellows simply have to combine up their tempo and their traces. The spinners nowadays know that if it’s too full, and there’s no flip, it’s just about six as a result of the fellows simply hit from the crease.
“Their [the spinners] work is absolutely lower out for them, extra so within the T20s than the ODIs.
“I additionally assume a few of the grounds in India are tiny. In Sri Lanka they’re a bit larger, however a few of the grounds are tiny in India.”
Q: England are starting a brand new white-ball period below Harry Brook. Though the taking part in personnel can be very completely different to what we’ve seen from England over the past five-to-six years below Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler, their mantra seems to be the identical: ‘go more durable than anybody else’.
What would your one piece of recommendation be to South Africa by way of the right way to fight this strategy from England in their very own yard, which may be difficult?
Herschelle Gibbs: “I do know loads has been mentioned about how England have approached their cricket, even with their Check cricket.
“I feel their batters have simply been given the license by [Brendon] McCullum to go forward and specific themselves regardless of how the wicket is taking part in.
“He has clearly picked guys that may do this and play with the precise kind of depth and flexibility.
“They’re much more artistic of their shotmaking than loads of different groups all over the world. I take a look at India and say, South Africa, in the best way they rating their runs, England hit you in several areas of the bottom and are much more unorthodox.
“That’s what makes them harmful. Now, for me, it’s all properly and good having that strategy. However in the end a batsman’s job is to at all times play the circumstances and play the scenario. That’s by no means going to vary so long as cricket is cricket.
“The one commentary that I’ve made is that loads of them, not simply the highest three or 4, usually are not interested by getting a whole lot. They’d quite have a flashy 40, 50 or 60, however not get the a whole lot.
“The a whole lot, on the finish of the day, nonetheless matter. The greats used to at all times have that starvation. There have been much more guys that received a whole lot and so they stayed hungry. They wished the a whole lot.
“I don’t at all times get the impression that a few of the batsmen in England truly wish to rating a whole lot. They’re fairly blissful getting a fast 40 or 50, or no matter it could be.
“And that could possibly be their demise since you at all times need that duty particularly as a top-order batter. It’s nonetheless your duty to get these large scores.
“It’s not solely about getting off to a great begin. If the circumstances don’t will let you play a sure means, you’ve received to simply accept that. You’ll be able to’t simply play [aggressively] for the sake of taking part in. Batting doesn’t work that means.
“Harry Brook is clearly main by instance and scoring runs constantly. He’s a assured fellow and he’s been given the license to guide in a selected means.
“His understanding of the sport will clearly get higher with time, however I feel he’s received all of the credentials to be a very good captain.
“He’s received sufficient talent and selection in his artillery so far as his bowling line-up is worried. With [Ben] Stokes out of the image and injured more often than not now, loads of the opposite lads must put their fingers up.
“Woody [Mark Wood] is an enormous loss to England. That uncooked tempo that he has does wonders. They’ve received Jofra Archer again, and I feel the match-up for me can be Archer versus Brevis.
“I noticed a home knock of his [Brevis] and he struggled a bit of bit with specific tempo. A number of bowlers try to bowl quick at him.
“You’ll be able to see he’s virtually compulsive on the subject of taking part in the quick ball and that he’s going to have a go regardless of whether or not the ball is excessive or whether or not he has received it below management.
“Coming again to England, I feel they’re going to be harmful. Like I mentioned, they’re very unorthodox and bat with loads of freedom, that’s for certain, however you continue to wish to have that duty of getting the massive scores on the finish of the day.
“You want ample runs on the board. The blokes nowadays are all very assured of their hitting capability, however circumstances at all times dictate the way you play.”
Q: You talked about England’s high order are harmful, however probably fairly inflexible in how they go about it and never essentially the most versatile. You have been, in fact, a trailblazer on the high of the order in white-ball cricket together with the likes of Virender Sehwag, Sanath Jayasuriya and Adam Gilchrist.
I’m certain that kind of batsmanship sits near your coronary heart while you watch younger up-and-comers. Within the present England set-up, are there any batters who match that mildew that you’re quietly wanting ahead to watching over the subsequent couple of weeks (though you’re on the opposite aspect of the fence and need South Africa to win, in fact)?
Herschelle Gibbs: “I’ve seen one or two of the English gamers, not that I watch them week in and week out.
“Clearly [Ben] Duckett and Harry Brook have been actually good. Among the photographs Duckett has performed within the Check matches, I couldn’t imagine it. It’s the best way of the fashionable batsman, you recognize?
“This Bethell boy [referring to Jacob Bethell] wants a little bit of backing and assist, perhaps, however I feel he can play.
“Tom Banton. I used to be his coach within the [Zimbabwe Afro] T10 in Zimbabwe two years in the past. He’s thrilling and he’s come off some large scores this yr.
“They’re simply very unorthodox, and I feel loads of them play on emotion and momentum. Generally they are often responsible of, perhaps, overdoing it a bit. You don’t need that to spoil it.
“A flashy 30 or 40 doesn’t actually get you the massive scores. Within the ODIs, in the event you don’t get 300 nowadays you’re feeling such as you’re quick. Flashy 30s or 40s usually are not going to get you 300.
“Generally I really feel it’s excessive, however when you get in you do as you please. It’s the ‘getting in’ half that’s an important. Should you don’t get in as a batsman, you’re not going to get any runs.”
Q: Lastly, what are your scoreline predictions for the upcoming England versus South Africa ODI and T20 sequence?
Herschelle Gibbs: “I feel the sequence goes to be actually aggressive, particularly for our ODI staff.
“It’ll be good for Breetzke and Brevis. Markram has come good on the high of the order. Temba’s been actually constant over the past couple of years.
“If we’re going to get these large scores, I don’t need us to be too predictable on the subject of our batting order. For years, I’ve at all times mentioned we’re too predictable on the subject of how we play our cricket.
“It’s one factor to provide the fellows full license to precise themselves, however I don’t need us to be too predictable.
“With England, they’ve received a really sturdy white-ball squad and bat with loads of confidence. They’ve received some good spinners, very versatile spinners.
“All in all, I feel we’re in for a very good sequence, however loads is determined by the overhead circumstances which play an enormous half in the UK.
“I feel within the T20s you guys would possibly beat us 2-1. However within the ODIs, it’ll be 2-1 to South Africa. England take the T20 sequence, we take the ODI sequence.”
Herschelle Gibbs was chatting on behalf of 10bet. For extra data, go to https://www.10bet.co.uk/sports activities
READ MORE: Cheteshwar Pujara – The final of cricket’s traditionalists?
