By Fakir Hassen, IANS
Johannesburg : South African opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs will not be “thrown to the wolves”, despite growing calls for his dismissal from the national squad, national coach Mickey Arthur was quoted by the media Friday.
Gibbs, who has been left out of the second Test against West Indies at home, has been out of form in recent months.
Arthur told the ‘Afrikaans daily Beeld’ here that although Gibbs had been left out of the side for this Test, he would remain part of the national squad.
The coach said it was in Gibbs’ best interests that he was given a break from from international cricket to take rest and regain his lost confidence by playing for his provincial side, the Cape Cobras.
“Herschelle (Gibbs) has a lack of confidence and he also knows this,” Arthur said.
“It is in everyone’s interest, including the team’s, that he goes back to the domestic level and win his confidence back.”
Arthur rejected to comment on rumours that Cricket South Africa (CSA) supreme Norman Arendse was unhappy with the decision to exclude Gibbs from the team and replace him with Neil McKenzie.
Team manager Logan Naidoo, however, explained that Arendse only had a veto right over selection issues, but that it was the coach, assistant coach, the captain and the vice-captain who matters most is selection.
“Therefore, there was no question of Arendse using his veto right to ensure that Gibbs played,” he said.