Aussie bowlers the best: Gibbs

South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs thinks Australians Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne are the best bowlers he has come up against.

Gibbs, answering questions in a monthly newsletter sent out to fans by team mate Jonty Rhodes, said he regarded McGrath as the best pace bowler and Warne, the best spin bowler.

"McGrath never bowls a half volley and never allows you to breathe. He's always at you so you have to be really tight. Warne's accuracy is almost perfect; he gets good length and turn as well as drift in the air. He basically disguises his deliveries really well," said Gibbs.

But he added that he was equally at home with both pace and spin balls. "Good batsmen enjoy the challenge of both. Either way my aim is always to attack."

Gibbs disclosed that he might have never made it to the national cricket squad if he had recovered well enough from a knee injury. He underwent a ligament operation in 1994, which ended an acclaimed rugby career.

"Besides, cricket you can play for a lot longer! I don't think I would have been able to adapt to the style of rugby today," said Gibbs.

He said former South African batsman Peter Kirsten and West Indies captain Vivian Richards were his role models. "Both had a lot of flair and loved hitting the ball. They made it look easy and were never boring," said Gibbs.

Offering advice to younger cricketers itching to get on to the national team, Gibbs said participation at international level is something that takes time. "Few players can make an impact at international level straight way. Building your confidence is the biggest thing you can work on."

Gibbs said he preferred to bat at four or five rather than as an opener. "Four or five suits me because I enjoy hitting the ball and you can almost start straight away when you come in. As an opener you have to take longer to play yourself in, you can't be as attacking early on."

Asked to identify his career highlight, Gibbs chose the 85 against England at the Wanderers grounds in Johannesburg. "The ball actually did too much off the wicket. You just had to bide your time and virtually survive and wait for a ball to score off," he said.

He also has a preference for Tests rather than one-day internationals, which he said provided opportunities to "show your flair and skill at batting and fielding."

"But Tests are what cricket is all about."

Mail Cricket Editor