Summoned from the school classroom as a 16-year-old to make his first-class debut in 1990, Herschelle Gibbs's feet moved beautifully at the crease but struggled to find the ground in real life. Admitting that a Test debut in front of 70,000 at Eden Gardens wasn't as nerve-wracking as sitting his final exams, as well as the fact that he reads little outside of magazines and comics, contributed to a reputation for simplicity. In fact, Gibbs can be a warm and generous person. His passion for one-liners and verbal jousting continues to hamper his advancement as a serious professional, and his brush with career death in the Cronje match-fixing scandal added to the impression of a man who had failed to grasp the magnitude of his impact on the nation's youth. A life-skills programme with the former Springbok rugby legend Morne du Plessis during the 2001 off-season was designed to address the matter.

At the crease, however, Gibbs can be invincible. There is no shot beyond his compass, while Test-match opening has not tempered his desire for explosive entertainment. The speed of his hands is hypnotic, frequently allowing him to hook off the front foot and keep out surprise lifters. His trademark is the lofted extra-cover drive, hit inside-out with the certainty of a square cut. Sporting comparisons can be odious, but in the field - at backward point - he really is the next Jonty Rhodes. Arguably his most famous innings came in a record-breaking one-day contest against Australia at Johannesburg when South Africa chased down an improbable 434 in 49.5 overs. Gibbs' contribution was a 111-ball 175 to power the hosts to a 3-2 series win in perhaps the greatest cracker of all. Having avoided touring India since 2000, Gibbs made himself available for the Champions Trophy in October and was selected in South Africa's 14-man squad. A lean trot continued into late November, but Gibbs showed glimpses of a return to form with a match-winning unbeaten 93 in a series clincher against India at home.

Gibbs was banned for two Tests by the ICC after being was charged under Level 3.3 of the ICC's Code of Conduct for making abusive comments about a section of the crowd during the Test series against Pakistan in early 2007. He was showing a return to somewhere near his best during the 94 at Centurion Park, which formed a rare period of bat-dominated action. His future appears to be in the middle order, unless the desperation for an opener forces him up. On March 16, 2007, during a World Cup game against Netherlands, Gibbs smashed himself into the record books. His six sixes off Dan van Bunge's fourth over was a record for international matches and he managed 342 runs, with four half-centuries, in the tournament. In 2008 he signed for Glamorgan's Twenty20 side.
Neil Manthorp/Jamie Alter April 2008

Western Province debut same season

Education: Diocesan College
Junior Representative Cricket: WP Nuff 1989-92, SA Schools 1991-92

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Aug 14, 2008 Herschelle Gibbs cracked 81 in the South African run chase © Getty Images

Aug 13, 2008 Herschelle Gibbs being attended to by the physio © Getty Images

Mar 11, 2008 Herschelle Gibbs at a training session © AFP

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