Publications
Partners
Cape Town – A typically ebullient Herschelle Gibbs says he has the “body of a 28-year-old” and intends to remain a Twenty20 circuit traveller for “at least another three or four years”.
The former Proteas favourite and occasional bad boy of cricket, who has wrestled some personal demons, confirms his ongoing lustre for the game -- as he approaches his 39th birthday in mid-summer -- in an interview with BBC Sport this week.
He is described by interviewer Jimmy Smallwood as a “dynamic, six-smashing, hard-running, batting globetrotter, careering around the international T20 scene, opening for franchises from West Indies to Australia and getting rewarded handsomely”.
Gibbs has effectively been persona non grata with Cricket South Africa for almost two years, particularly after publication of his book ‘To the Point’ which was deemed rather too candid and crude for officialdom.
There remains, nevertheless, a strong Gibbs fan club, with some people even believing he should still be wielding his “smoking gun” bat for the Proteas in the super-abbreviated game – the national side suffered another early exit from an ICC World Twenty20 tournament recently.
He says in the interview: “I’ve never believed age is an issue with me ... I’ve been blessed with physique and speed. I have the body of a 28-year-old.
“There is no reason why I can’t play. I want to keep going.”
He also describes the challenges of his life as a freelancer, without the support structures offered by a national contract like on-call training facilities and physiotherapists.
“My independence is not a burden or an issue for me. I watch what I eat. I enjoy my fitness. At home I have a few net sessions a week, just to stay in good nick.”
Gibbs is turning out for the Perth Scorchers in the Champions League T20 tournament on South African soil; their first fixture is against home outfit the Titans at Centurion on Saturday (13:30 SA time).
*Follow our chief writer on Twitter: @RobHouwing
The former Proteas favourite and occasional bad boy of cricket, who has wrestled some personal demons, confirms his ongoing lustre for the game -- as he approaches his 39th birthday in mid-summer -- in an interview with BBC Sport this week.
He is described by interviewer Jimmy Smallwood as a “dynamic, six-smashing, hard-running, batting globetrotter, careering around the international T20 scene, opening for franchises from West Indies to Australia and getting rewarded handsomely”.
Gibbs has effectively been persona non grata with Cricket South Africa for almost two years, particularly after publication of his book ‘To the Point’ which was deemed rather too candid and crude for officialdom.
There remains, nevertheless, a strong Gibbs fan club, with some people even believing he should still be wielding his “smoking gun” bat for the Proteas in the super-abbreviated game – the national side suffered another early exit from an ICC World Twenty20 tournament recently.
He says in the interview: “I’ve never believed age is an issue with me ... I’ve been blessed with physique and speed. I have the body of a 28-year-old.
“There is no reason why I can’t play. I want to keep going.”
He also describes the challenges of his life as a freelancer, without the support structures offered by a national contract like on-call training facilities and physiotherapists.
“My independence is not a burden or an issue for me. I watch what I eat. I enjoy my fitness. At home I have a few net sessions a week, just to stay in good nick.”
Gibbs is turning out for the Perth Scorchers in the Champions League T20 tournament on South African soil; their first fixture is against home outfit the Titans at Centurion on Saturday (13:30 SA time).
*Follow our chief writer on Twitter: @RobHouwing
