JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) – Former South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs is giving away items of kit and medals from his controversial career via Twitter.
The 36-year-old’s central contract was cancelled last month, ruling him out of this year’s World Cup. “Ok morn peeps, just as a small thanku from me, my 20000th follower will receive my last Proteas shirt I will prob ever wear, Oakleys and a cap,” Gibbs tweeted. The dashing right-handed batsman said he would give away his man of the match medal from the game in which he scored 175 to take South Africa to 438 for nine, the highest ever ODI run-chase, against Australia in Johannesburg in 2006.
Gibbs defended his decision, saying a World Cup winner’s medal was the only item he would have wanted to keep.
“In case u peeps ask why I giv away stuff, the only thing I wanted was a wcup winners medal and that’s not gonna happen, so I’ll give wats left,” Gibbs tweeted.
Gibbs scored 6,167 runs at an average of 41.95 in tests and 8,094 one-day international runs at 36.13. He struck 14 test centuries and is his country’s leading one-day century scorer with 21.
