Sports

Gibson targets No. 1 ranking with South Africa

September 19, 2017
A newly appointed coach Ottis Gibson speaks during a media conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday. Gibson was presented as South Africa's new cricket coach in Johannesburg on Tuesday, replacing Russell Domingo who did not have his contract renewed after their Test series defeat in England. — AP
A newly appointed coach Ottis Gibson speaks during a media conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday. Gibson was presented as South Africa's new cricket coach in Johannesburg on Tuesday, replacing Russell Domingo who did not have his contract renewed after their Test series defeat in England. — AP

JOHANNESBURG — New South Africa coach Ottis Gibson faces a fast bowling crisis ahead of the two-Test home series against Bangladesh that starts on Sept. 28, as he plots a path to return the side to No. 1 in the International Cricket Council's five-day rankings.

West Indian Gibson left his post as England bowling coach to take up the top position with South Africa, but already faces a challenging start with several top performers sidelined by injury. "We have four quality fast bowlers injured. That's a problem straight away," Gibson said at his first press conference as coach on Tuesday.

"You can't really develop a team with that type of injury list. We have to take 20 wickets consistently to win Tests. We need a group of fast bowlers ready to perform."

Dale Steyn's return has been delayed again, this time indefinitely, after he suffered a setback in his recovery with a strained muscle in his problematic shoulder.

Vernon Philander has also been ruled out of the first Test, at least, with a back problem sustained in the recent 3-1 Test series loss in England, while all-rounder Chris Morris will miss both games also because of a back injury.

Promising youngster Lungi Ngidi, who burst onto the scene in Twenty20 cricket earlier this year, is also out until mid-October with a stress fracture in his back.

It means Kagiso Rabada and Morne Morkel are the only two fit seamers with significant Test experience, leaving Duane Olivier, Wayne Parnell and Andile Phehlukwayo to likely fight over the other two positions in the side.

Injuries aside, Gibson feels he has the players to return South Africa to the top of the Test rankings. "My philosophy over the next two years is taking the Proteas back to the top of the (Test) pile first of all, then hopefully winning the (2019) World Cup," he said.

"I'm lucky in a sense, the Proteas have been to No. 1 in the world on a few occasions and not very long ago they were No. 1 in the world."

Gibson says he is well aware of Cricket South Africa's transformation targets that means the national side, across all formats, must select on average through the season six non-white players per game, two of whom must be black African.

"That process has been happening before I got here‚" he said. "As far as team selection is concerned‚ we will continue on the path that we are on at the moment. The chairman of selectors and the captain have got a handle on that."

Sri Lanka name new

panel led by Labrooy

Sri Lanka named a new selection committee on Tuesday, putting former Test bowler Graeme Labrooy in charge of the five-member panel as they seek a reversal in the team's fortune.

The previous panel, led by former captain Sanath Jayasuriya, resigned en masse last month in the middle of a tour whitewash by India who won all three Tests, five One-Dayers and the lone Twenty20 International in Sri Lanka.

The debacle followed their first ODI series defeat by Zimbabwe in July, which prompted Angelo Mathews to step down as captain from all formats.

"The new selectors will begin their term with the selection of the Test Squad to take on Pakistan in their tour of UAE commencing early next week," Sri Lanka cricket said in a statement.

Labrooy, 53, played nine Tests and 44 ODIs between 1986 and 1992. Other members of the panel include Gamini Wikramasinghe, Jeryl Wouterz, Sajith Fernando and Asanka Gurusinha, who is also the cricket manager.

Sri Lanka will leave for United Arab Emirates on Sunday for the series against Pakistan featuring two Tests, five One-Dayers and three Twenty20 Internationals, the last of which is scheduled in Lahore. — Reuters


September 19, 2017
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