Cricket
Get it right, Hersch: Smith
2008-11-10 08:02
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Passionate plea to Gibbs (Gallo Images)
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Rob HouwingBenoni – Proteas captain Graeme Smith issued a passionate plea here on Sunday for banished batsman Herschelle Gibbs to sort out his personal issues and return to national one-day duty.
Speaking to Sport24 after South Africa’s series-clinching 128-run victory over Bangladesh – two-nil up with one to play in East London on Wednesday – Smith said: “I’ve said it to Hersch myself: I believe he’s potentially got an incredible two to three years yet, to end the game on his own terms.
“He knows and we all know that he’s got to work on a few things, more (in the way of) off-field stuff. I truly believe if he can get that right it will benefit his game going forward.”
Gibbs was sent home after breaking a team curfew before the Standard Bank Pro20 international against the Bangladeshis in Johannesburg a few days ago, and asked by Cricket South Africa to attend an alcohol rehabilitation programme.
“We all care for Herschelle a helluva lot,” said Smith. “He’s been a part of our lives for a long time. He’s the sort of talent who really deserves to go out on his own terms.
“He’s given his country a lot of good times and some hair-raising times but from our point of view we’d love to see him (back) and we’re encouraging him to take the processes and go and get his life back on track.
“He can add value but he’s got to make that step towards where we want him to, first.”
Smith said he was pleased to have come through his comeback game from a nagging tennis-elbow injury successfully – he contributed a run-a-ball 65 in an opening stand of 136 with man-of-the-match Hashim Amla, who smashed an ODI career-best 140.
“It was nice to be back on the field; it’s been a long process to get there. It’s one of those things I’ll have to keep managing all the time, make sure I keep working with the fizz (physiotherapist), but at the moment it feels really good. I hope it stays that way, I guess.
“Batting for a couple of hours meant I was able to (test) it a bit … I played shots with full extension, I played turnovers to leg and pull shots; there was nothing inhibiting me at all.
“It felt a bit weird after nine weeks to get into the middle but it was nice. My feet moved well and the balance was good; everything shifted into place. Luckily it was a nice wicket with a good bit of pace and bounce, so an ideal way to start.”