Gibbs comes in as cover for injured Kallis

Herschelle Gibbs has been recalled as cover for injured all-rounder Jacques Kallis for the remainder of South Africa’s limited-overs international series against England. Kallis is expected to be sidelined for a month with a fractured rib,discovered after a scan at the weekend. Kallis missed the seven-wicket loss to England at Centurion on Sunday,which put the hosts behind 1-0 in the five-match ODI series.

It is not certain whether the 35-year-old Gibbs,with 21 ODI centuries from 245 appearances,will play in the next match in Cape Town on Friday as the least experienced batsmen in the hosts’ top five,Alviro Petersen and Hashim Amla,both scored half centuries on Sunday. Gibbs was initially overlooked for this series. He scored 22 in his last ODI,a loss to England in the group stage of the Champions Trophy in September.

The absence of Kallis causes problems for the South Africans in both batting and bowling. The South Africans will consider the composition of the attack this week,with left-arm seamer Wayne Parnell a contender for a recall from an ankle injury. However,Gibbs’ experience could strengthen the South Africa lineup,given his ability with the bat and his top-rate fielding.