NEIL MANTHORP, Cape Town | Saturday 12.15pm.
THE night after South Africa’s dramatic, traumatic world cup semi final tie against Australia – and subsequent elimination – the man who was about to take charge of the national side sipped a beer in a local Birmingham pub and reflected on the effect the match would have on those who played in it.
“It’ll take a long time for for some of the guys to get over it,” Graham Ford said. “For others, well, they probably never will.”
Herschelle Gibbs followed Allan Donald, Lance Klusener and Hansie Cronje on Friday when he admitted that the nightmare of South Africa’s exit is still very much part of his everyday life.
“I’ve never been very good at sitting around but these days I have to keep extra busy just to keep my mind off it. In quiet moments my mind goes back immediately to what happened and I break out in a cold sweat. I’ve had a few cold sweats…”
In an age where most professional sportsmen – including cricketers – are complaining about the excessive length of their seasons, Gibbs says he can’t wait to get back into the nets.
“I did absolutely nothing for a couple of weeks after the world cup but then I started running and keeping generally fit. Next week I’ll start hitting a few balls and having full nets. I know it’s good to have a break from the game but I just can’t wait for the new season to get started.
“What happened at the world cup is still very fresh in my memory. It’s still a big part of my life and I suppose it always will be, but the best way to start recovering properly is to play the game again. At the moment I’m still suffering from flashbacks which send shivers down my spine. I need to play, and I think that applies to all the guys.
“We’ve got seven tests and about a dozen or so one-dayers this season which represents a fantastic opportunity to play well, make runs and win matches to help us get over the world cup. We’ll never forget it, but it’ll be nice to have something else to think about!” — MWP