In this article, we will delve into the world of Herschelle Gibbs – a cricketer who left an indelible mark on the sport with his record-breaking feat of hitting six sixes in an over. We’ll also explore his impressive career statistics and his success in the Indian Premier League (IPL), giving you all the information, you need to know about this legendary player. From his early days in cricket to his retirement, we’ll take a comprehensive look at the life and times of Herschelle Gibbs.
Who is Herschelle Gibbs?
Herschelle Gibbs is a former South African cricketer who played for the national team from 1996 to 2010. He was known for his aggressive batting style and exceptional fielding abilities and is regarded as one of the finest batsmen to have represented South Africa in limited-overs cricket. Throughout his career, Gibbs achieved numerous milestones and records, including the historic feat of hitting six sixes in an over during the 2007 Cricket World Cup. He also had a successful stint in the Indian Premier League (IPL), playing for various franchises over the years.
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Herschelle Gibbs six sixes Record
Herschelle Gibbs Six Sixes Record: A Moment of Glory in Cricket History
Cricket has witnessed several iconic moments that will be remembered for generations to come. One such moment is when Herschelle Gibbs, a South African cricketer, hit six sixes in an over during a One Day International (ODI) match against the Netherlands in the 2007 Cricket World Cup. It was a historic moment that left cricket enthusiasts spellbound and etched Herschelle Gibbs’ name in the record books forever.
Match Details
The match was held on March 16, 2007, at Warner Park in St Kitts, West Indies. South Africa was batting first, and Gibbs was at the crease with his team on 206/5 in the 42nd over. Dutch bowler Daan van Bunge came into bowl the 30th over, and what followed was nothing short of an extraordinary display of hitting by Gibbs.
Ball by ball commentary
The first ball was a full toss that Gibbs launched over long-on. The second ball was another full toss, and Gibbs deposited it over the midwicket boundary. The third ball was a low full toss that Gibbs smashed over long-off, and the crowd erupted in joy. The fourth ball was a slower one, and Gibbs sent it soaring over deep midwicket. The fifth ball was a high full toss, which Gibbs pulled towards the midwicket region. And finally, the last ball of the over was another full toss, which Gibbs blasted over long-on to complete the historic feat.
Gibbs became the first player in the history of ODI cricket to hit six sixes in an over. The feat had been achieved twice before in first-class cricket, but never in an international match. It was a moment of sheer brilliance, and Gibbs’ name was etched in cricketing history forever.
Apart from the six sixes, Gibbs had a magnificent innings, scoring 72 runs off just 40 balls. His knock included eight fours and four sixes apart from the six sixes that he hit in the 30th over. South Africa posted a mammoth total of 353/3 in their 50 overs, and the Netherlands was bundled out for just 132 runs, losing the match by a massive 221 runs.
The momentous feat by Gibbs earned him the Player of the Match award, and his name will forever be associated with the record-breaking moment. Several cricketers have come close to emulating Gibbs’ feat, but none have succeeded yet. Yuvraj Singh famously hit six sixes in an over during the 2007 T20 World Cup, but it was not in an international match.
Herschelle Gibbs stats
He played for South Africa in all formats of the game and was an integral part of their team for over a decade.
Batting Stats –
| Format | matches | runs | average | centuries | half-centuries | highest score |
| Test | 90 | 6167 | 41.95 | 14 | 26 | 228 |
| ODI | 248 | 8094 | 36.13 | 21 | 37 | 175 |
| T20 | 23 | 400 | 18.18 | 0 | 3 | 90 |
Bowling stats –
| Format | matches | Inns | Balls | runs | Wkts | Econ |
| Test | 90 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 4.00 |
| ODI | 248 | – | – | – | – | – |
| T20 | 23 | – | – | – | – | – |
Herschelle Gibbs was also a highly effective fielder, known for his acrobatic catches and sharp reflexes. He took 108 catches in Test cricket and 131 catches in ODIs, making him one of the best fielders of his time.
Herschelle Gibbs IPL (Indian Premier League) Success
Herschelle Gibbs was a part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) from its inception in 2008 until 2012. He played for three different franchises in the league during his five-year stint in the competition.
1. Deccan Chargers (2008)
Gibbs was first signed by the Deccan Chargers for the inaugural season of the IPL in 2008. He played a crucial role in their title-winning campaign in 2009, where he scored 371 runs in 14 matches at an average of 33.72. His most memorable innings in the tournament was his unbeaten knock of 53 runs off just 48 balls in the final against the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
2. Mumbai Indians (2010)
After his stint with the Deccan Chargers, Gibbs was signed by the Mumbai Indians for the 2010 season. However, he did not have a very successful campaign with them, scoring only 247 runs in 14 matches at an average of 18.07.
3. Kings XI Punjab (2011)
In the 2011 IPL auction, Gibbs was picked up by the Kings XI Punjab. He played a crucial role for them, scoring 438 runs in 14 matches at an average of 36.50. His most memorable innings in the tournament was his knock of 70 runs off just 43 balls against the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
In the 2012 IPL auction, Gibbs went unsold, and he was not a part of the league after that. Overall, in his IPL career, Gibbs played 56 matches and scored 1,074 runs at an average of 23.09. He also took 17 catches in the tournament.
Gibbs’ aggressive batting style, his ability to score quickly, and his experience in high-pressure situations made him a valuable asset to any team he played for in the IPL. Though his IPL career was relatively short, he made a significant impact, especially in the Deccan Chargers’ title-winning campaign in 2009.
Herschelle Gibbs IPL Stats
Batting Stats –
| year | Teams | matches | runs | average | centuries | half-centuries | highest score |
| 2008 | Deccan Chargers | 14 | 371 | 33.72 | – | 1 | 53 |
| 2010 | Mumbai Indians | 14 | 247 | 18.07 | – | – | – |
| 2011 | Kings XI Punjab | 14 | 438 | 36.50 | – | – | 70 |
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Herschelle Gibbs Jersey Number
Herschelle Gibbs changed his jersey number every year.
Here is a year-wise list of Herschelle Gibbs’ jersey number in all formats:
| Year | Jersey Number |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 9 |
In the Indian Premier League (IPL), he played for the Mumbai Indians and wore jersey number 74, which represents his birth year, 1974.
