Herschelle Gibbs
The batsman who influenced the highest run-chase in the history of ODIs caught up with us to talk about the ...
Friday, May 23, 2008
It's been frustrating to lose constantly: Gibbs
New Delhi: A clean striker, a brilliant fielder. Herschelle Gibbs is the perfect package for T20 cricket. But Gibbs' failure has been one of the talking points of this IPL. With the pressure of coming clean on the 2000 match-fixing scandal way behind him, Gibbs moves about in India like a free man. No wonder then he got talking with cricketnirvana.com without any baggage of the past.
Excerpts
How has the IPL experience been so far?
It's been pretty good. It's been a little bit frustrating to lose all the time. I mean we have obviously lost the games, but saying that, the team is really good. We have really been unlucky with one or two results and that's what has changed the whole fortunes of our tournament so far.
Why hasn't your batting clicked so far?
It's not that it hasn't really clicked. It's just that one or two guys are performing and contributing on any given day. Maybe we just need one or two other guys to make contribution on the day too. So you know at the end of the day it is a team game.
Has the absence of Andrew Symonds affected the team?
No, I don't think so. We know that he is a world class player and he got that really good hundred against Rajasthan Royals. But we have won 2 games since he hasn't been here. So it's been fine.
How would you rate the fielding in the Deccan Chargers?
I think the fielding has been ok. It hasn't been world class. There have been some really good catches though.
One player from the team who has really impressed you…
Rohit Sharma has really been a breath of fresh air. He is obviously a very confident young man. He is enjoying his cricket at the moment. He has so much potential and I think he has got a really bright future. I think if he really wants, he can be a really great cricketer.
Who would you rate as the five best fielders in the game?
I will definitely say Tillakaratne Dilshan, AB de Villiers are right up there. I would say Ricky Ponting is great as well. There are quite a few. I don't think there is one particular person who stands above every body else.
How do you see the IPL affecting Test and ODIs?
I don't think its going to influence the game too much. I think the guys might probably be a lot more confident where the skills levels are concerned because in a T20 game a lot of improvisations take place. But the fundamentals of the Test cricket will always be there until it goes on and obviously it will be there forever. Maybe the 50 over game may change. You might see few more scores above 300 more often.
Whenever you are in India, matchfixing raises his head. Marlon Samuels has been convicted now…
I obviously know what the man (Samuels) is going through. I mean the controversies and all.... Obviously I have had my fair share. I am just thinking about the game and enjoying myself. Not having any question mark on your head is nice. I feel free for a change.
