OWN CORRESPONDENT, Birmingham | Wednesday 10.10am.
HERSCHELLE Gibbs spoke on Tuesday for the first time about ”that catch” offered by Steve Waugh and denied he had dropped the ball while celebrating.
The South African opener was faced with a simple chance at midwicket to remove Waugh when the Australian captain was on 56 in Sunday’s Super Six match at Headingley.
But he appeared to drop the ball as he tried a trademark celebration flick into the air, allowing Waugh to go on to an unbeaten 120 and victory.
”I had had some spray on a finger and it was numb. I didn’t feel anything,” Gibbs said after practice for Thursday’s return match with the Australians in the semifinals.
”I almost had the ball but my hand didn’t want to close. I wasn’t trying to throw it up. I know the slow motion looks like it, and I know I have a tendency to do that, but I never had control of the ball.”
Coach Bob Woolmer appeared unconvinced by Gibbs’ explanation. ”I said to Herschelle afterwards, ‘I love you, but if you do that again I’ll batter you from here to kingdom come’.
”But he’s learned a lesson — a lesson in life and a lesson in cricket. He won’t do it again.
”That catch cost us 64 runs but we can’t dwell on it. It’s behind us now and Herschelle’s fine.
”He’s got a job to do on Thursday, as we all have, and everyone’s very positive and looking forward to the challenge.” — Reuters