The axing of Herschelle Gibbs, for all his obvious inconsistency, came as something of a surprise when the Proteas squads were announced.
There had been talk of shifting Gibbs down the batting order and, watching him bat for the Cobras in the semifinal of the Champions League, there renewed admiration for the 35-year-old. He kept his head well against some good bowling by Trinidad & Tobago… until a little rush of blood cost him his wicket. But he had managed to hold the Cobras innings together before JP Duminy took over the mantel.
The Cobras didn’t make it, but that is now beside the point. We’re talking national team here.
Alviro Petersen will now get the middle-order rule that had been slotted for Gibbs. SA chief selector Mike Procter was quoted as saying that his committee had lost patience with Gibbs’s inconsistency, but that he could force his way back. I don’t see that happening. Thirty-five is too old to again reinvent your cricket career. Pity that Gibbs did not get a decent send-off, but only one person is to blame for that.
As for the recall Charl Langeveld and the call-up of Ryan McLaren, everyone predicted that.
There was some insincere platitudes about Langeveldt making himself available again.
Let’s just remember that when he gave up his international career it was because of being told by certain people that he was a token. That was nonsense then, and it still is. Norman Arendse might have insisted on Langeveldt’s selection ahead of the team favourite at the time, Andre Nel, but the president of SA cricket was well within his rights — and right on the button. Langers was the better bowler when the row erupted over Nel, and he is now.

Related posts:

1. Bosman back to open
2. Herschelle Gibbs sacked
3. Proteas call on Gibbs again
4. Supersport wins for Lions and Eagles
5. Proteas flop… except for Herschelle