Herschelle Gibbs: The Man Who Dropped the World Cup and Hit Six Sixes
Herschelle Gibbs was one of the most exhilarating strokeplayers in South African cricket history, remembered equally for a famous dropped catch in 1999 and hitting six sixes in a single over in 2007.
Herschelle Gibbs was blessed with natural talent that few batsmen in the world could match — an explosive right-hand opener with cat-like reflexes in the field. He played 90 Tests for South Africa, scoring 6,167 runs at an average of 41.95, and was an entertainer who produced moments of brilliance and occasional heartbreak.
The 1999 World Cup Drop
Gibbs is partly remembered for one of cricket's most infamous dropped catches. In the 1999 World Cup Super Six match against Australia, he caught Steve Waugh at mid-on, then dropped the ball while celebrating before completing the dismissal. Waugh reportedly told him: 'You just dropped the World Cup, son.' Australia went on to win the match and eventually the tournament. South Africa, needing to tie to advance, famously ran themselves out in the last over. The dropped catch became a sporting legend.
Six Sixes in an Over
Gibbs achieved one of cricket's rarest feats in the 2007 Cricket World Cup against the Netherlands when he hit Daan van Bunge for six sixes in a single over — only the second man in international cricket history to do so (after Yuvraj Singh did it against Stuart Broad later that year). The over read 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6.
Legacy
- 90 Tests, 6,167 runs, average 41.95
- 14 Test centuries, 26 fifties
- 6 sixes in an over at 2007 World Cup
- One of South Africa's most attacking openers
- Part of the golden generation with Kallis, Smith, and Pollock
Frequently asked questions
Who is Herschelle Gibbs?
Herschelle Gibbs is a former South African cricketer known for his flamboyant batting, famous for dropping Steve Waugh at the 1999 World Cup and hitting six sixes in an over at the 2007 World Cup.
Did Herschelle Gibbs hit six sixes in an over?
Yes — Gibbs hit six sixes off Daan van Bunge of the Netherlands in the 2007 Cricket World Cup, becoming one of very few players to achieve this in international cricket.