Players should be picked on merit, says Gibbs

Gibbs, one of three coloured or black players in the current touring party, played the opening limited overs match against New Zealand but was dropped for the next two, as the tourists fielded an all-white side.

“You must earn the cap,” Gibbs told Associated Press today.

“Nothing in life comes free and the same should apply when it comes to representing your country. You must be picked on merit.”

South African officials said it was decided before the tour that at least one of Gibbs, left-arm wrist spinner Paul Adams or 18-year-old fast bowler Victor Mpitsang should play in the six limited overs internationals and three Tests.

Gibbs, who made his first-class debut as a 16-year-old for Western Province, has had a roller-coaster Test career but made strong claims for a regular place with an impressive series in South Africa’s 5-0 thrashing of the West Indies.

Gibbs made his Test comeback after the UCBSA adopted the policy of including at least one non-white player in all Tests and one-day internationals.

“I am sure the non-white people will like to see more of them being represented,” Gibbs said on the eve of tomorrow’s first Test.

“But it should be done on merit. Not on the color of your skin.”

“You should feel proud of your personal achievement. You have to justify your selections by performing. The sooner people realise this it will be better for the sport.”

Gibbs, will open with veteran batsman Gary Kirsten in the first Test at Eden Park tomorrow.

“If I was dropped for the one-dayers, it was because the selectors felt they could field a better combination. I’ve got no problems with that,” Gibbs said.

According the UCBSA managing director Ali Bacher, skipper Cronje has given assurance to adhere to the board policy.

In December 1998 the UCBSA launched a transformation charter and appointed a four-man monitoring panel with power of veto to endorse white-only teams.

The UCBSA came under heavy criticism after it fielded a white-only team in the first Test against the West Indies last year.

“I have spoken to Hansie and he gave an assurance that the intention was never to flout board policy or ignore the UCB vision for the future of SA cricket. They were merely experimenting with combinations for the World Cup,” Bacher said from Johannesburg.

“Hansie assured me that board policy will be adhered to in future. He remains committed to captaining a successful South African team that will elicit the support of all South Africans.”

All future white-only teams will be endorsed by a four-man monitoring panel and according to Bacher, the UCBSA’s original document that read: “The National team must be a team of color, wherever possible has been amended.”