Ottis Gibson targets No. 1 ranking with South Africa
JOHANNESBURG: New South Africa coach Ottis Gibson faces a fast bowling crisis ahead of the two-Test home series against Bangladesh that starts on September 28, as he plots a path to return the side to No. 1 in the International Cricket Council (ICC) 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 set-back 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.