Herschelle Gibbs: South Africa's Most Explosive Opener

Herschelle Gibbs was one of South Africa's most thrilling batters of the late 1990s and 2000s — an attacking left-handed opener of explosive potential who could transform a game within minutes of taking his crease. He played 90 Tests for South Africa between 1996 and 2008, scoring 6,167 runs at an average of 41.95 with 14 centuries. Gibbs was a naturally gifted strokemaker — brilliant on the front foot through extra cover and devastating when pulling or cutting — who could take the attack to any bowling attack in conditions that suited his style. At his best he was among the most exciting opening batters in the world.

Six Sixes in an Over

Gibbs holds one of cricket's most remarkable records — the first batter to hit six sixes in a single over in international cricket. At the 2007 Cricket World Cup against the Netherlands, he hit Daan van Bunge for six sixes in consecutive deliveries — matching the feat achieved by Garfield Sobers in first-class cricket in 1968. The achievement captured global attention and remains one of the most celebrated individual moments in ODI cricket history. Gibbs finished the innings with a score of 72 from 40 balls.

Match-Fixing and Later Career

Gibbs was implicated in South Africa's 2000 match-fixing scandal — he was offered money to deliberately score below 20 in a match against India, which he initially accepted before later performing above the agreed threshold. He received a six-month ban from international cricket and later published a detailed account of his involvement. Despite this setback, he continued his career and remained productive for South Africa until 2008. His autobiography 'To the Point' provided a frank account of the match-fixing era in South African cricket.