Christo Buchner

Johannesburg - Has Herschelle Gibbs reached the end of the cricketing road?

That was the question after he was omitted on Thursday from the South African one-day side due to a code of conduct violation.

It’s not just Gibss’ cricketing career that is in jeopardy, but also his debut as a member of TV-channel ESPN’s commentary team.

According to his father, Herman, Gibbs agreed a contract to commentate for ESPN next month during the Champions League cricket tournament in India. It is the richest ever provincial tournament. However, that could be in jeopardy if he has to undergo rehabilitation for possible alcohol addiction.

Gibbs Sr said on Thursday, while travelling to the Cape Town Airport to pick up his son, that the latest development in his controversial career was disappointing.

“His involvement with the one-day side was the only contact he had with the South African team and now that is also gone. It’s a setback for his goal of making the side that would travel to Australia,” Herschelle’s father said.

“It’s something he would love to do, but now we’ll have to wait and see.”

He added that Herschelle does not like to speak openly about the things that worry him, but that he believes there must be a lot of frustration because of his son’s failed marriage of less than a year.

“He does not talk about it a lot and those who spend time with him in the team set-up will probably be in a better position to judge how he is feeling,” said Gibbs Sr.

“It will probably be best for him if he reports for the rehabilitation programme the South African team management would like to send him on.”

Team manager Dr. Mohammed Moosajee suggested on Thursday in a statement that Gibbs undergoes rehabilitation for his drinking habits.

“It will be the diplomatic way to go about it and I believe it will have the desired effect,” his father said.

“He is still serious about his cricket and still enjoying it. I can still see it hurts when he goes out. The problem is that there are so many other things that his focus is not on his cricket. He’s still working hard in the gym.

“I also don’t know what will happen with the opportunity he had to commentate for ESPN. His rehabilitation may clash with the tournament in India, but we’ll wait and see if he can still do it.”

Jaco van der Merwe reports that Gibbs was caught in Cape Town earlier this year for alleged drunk driving. The case will only come up in December.

His ex-wife, Tenielle, also said during their divorce case that Gibbs regularly verbally abused her when he had been drinking.

Gibbs made waves in 2000 during the Hansie Cronjé scandal when he testified in front of the King Commission that he agreed to take money to under-achieve in a one-day match against India. He was suspended for six months and fined.

In 2001 he had to undergo a life-skills course under the leadership of former Springbok rugby captain Morné du Plessis after he and other team members smoked marijuana during a tour to the West Indies.

Last year he was suspended for three weeks for racist comments aimed at Pakistani supporters.

At 34 Gibbs is running out of time in international cricket. He has already lost his test spot to Neil McKenzie and will have to fight hard for a place in the team that takes on Australia in a one-day series early next year.