Herschelle Gibbs back in South African team

Herschelle Gibbs was recalled to the South African team Monday on the day a six-month ban from international cricket for conspiring in match-fixing expired.

Gibbs will open the batting in the second Test against Sri Lanka which starts at Newlands Tuesday. He replaces Boeta Dippenaar in the only change from the side that drew the first Test in Durban last week.

Rushdi Magiet, convenor of the South African selectors, said the decision of the panel to recall Gibbs was unanimous. "He has served his time and he is the best man for the job," said Magiet.

Although the team was picked Saturday, the announcement was delayed until Gibbs ban expired.

Gibbs, 26, was banned for six months and fined 60,000 rand (7,932 dollars/ 8,426 euros) by a three-man United Cricket Board disciplinary committee headed by former judge Mervyn King. He was fined for agreeing to an offer of 15,000 dollars (15,934 euros) by former captain Hansie Cronje to score fewer than 20 runs in a one-day international against India in Nagpur in March.

The tribunal decided that Gibbs and teammate Henry Williams, who was banned for six months and fined 10 000 rand (1,322 dollars/ 1,404 euros), had been "corrupted" by Cronje - who was sacked as captain and banned for life by the UCB after admitting that he had received thousands of dollars from bookmakers or gamblers.

Michael Kuper, a member of the disciplinary committee, told a press conference in Johannesburg on August 28 that Gibbs and Williams had been found guilty of "conspiracy", not match-fixing as neither had gone through with the plan to underperform. Gibbs had scored 74 and Cronje had then told the players the deal was off.

Kuper said the players had not been banned for life because tough new International Cricket Council rules had not come into effect at the time of the offence.

Mitigating circumstances were that both players were heavily under the influence of Cronje and that they had lost money through the withdrawal of match fees, monthly salaries and sponsorships.

Gibbs was not immediately available for comment but was due to talk to the media after a South African net practice Monday morning. In a statement after his ban was announced in August he apologised for his actions and said he had "come to appreciate fully my stupidity."

South African team: Shaun Pollock (captain), Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Daryll Cullinan, Neil McKenzie, Lance Klusener, Mark Boucher, Nicky Boje, Makhaya Ntini, Mfuneko Ngam, Ashwell Prince (12th man).

Mail Cricket Editor