August 24, 2007

For Gibson to peak at an age when most bowlers have settled for the pipe and slippers is remarkable. But he must know it can't get any better and there must be a temptation to quit at the top, leave the stage for younger men and accept one of the coaching jobs which will surely be offered.

He might even get the call from England coach Peter Moores, who is apparently a big admirer and is keeping his options open by handing Allan Donald only a two-month contract. The South African is the bigger name in fast bowling terms, but Gibson has been building a reputation as a coach for several years, even to the extent of improving his own bowling through what he has learnt.

He openly acknowledges the self-improvement since the days when, partly through frustration at his under-achievement, he found himself playing for Staffordshire while becoming an ECB coach for the North-West.

That was six years ago and he clearly wasn't going to add to his two West Indies Test caps, although the absolute certainty that he would have strengthened their team this summer was confirmed by the impact he had on the Friends Provident Trophy final compared with Daren Powell.

Hampshire's recent recruit conceded 80 runs in ten overs, while Gibson's all-round contribution amounted to a rapid series of rapier thrusts which killed off already ailing opponents.

The initial thrusts came with the bat as the first two balls he faced were smashed for six and four, prompting a beamer from Chris Tremlett which initially incensed Gibson. He quickly accepted a handshake, however, pointing out that he had coached Tremlett last winter with England A.

Also in that party was Graham Onions, who would not have played on Saturday had Steve Harmison been fit, while such is Durham's wealth of seamers that they have allowed Mark Davies to go on loan to Nottinghamshire, for whom he took a career-best seven for 59 against Northamptonshire on Wednesday.

If Durham are to hang on to these youngsters they need to give them regular cricket, so despite the huge hole he will leave in the side they should celebrate Gibson's success rather than bemoan his absence if he does hang up his boots. He looked a strange signing at 36, but he's been a revelation and his role in helping Durham to their first silverware has been immense.

WHILE he would be disappointed not to be involved, Mark Davies had the best of both worlds on Saturday. He was with family in the crowd at Lord's to see Durham virtually ensure victory by amassing 312 for five, then hopped across London to see his brother, Andrew, help Middlesbrough to win at Fulham.

ALSO in the crowd at Lord's was former Yorkshire opener Richard Lumb, who is perhaps best remembered for the number of times he was run out by Geoff Boycott. He emigrated to South Africa, where his son Michael was born and raised before signing for Yorkshire, then Hampshire. Richard came over for the Friends Provident final, only for Michael to be dismissed first ball.

THERE were several ex-Durham players in the crowd at Lord's, including Brian Lander, captain of the 1973 team which so famously beat Yorkshire at Harrogate. I'm not sure whether they included John Morris, who negotiated a benefit as part of his six-year deal ahead of the more deserving Simon Brown, who was at Lord's helping the Five Live commentary team.

Derbyshire have raised a few eyebrows by appointing Morris as their Director of Cricket and it will be interesting to see if he persuades Simon Katich to return as captain next season. They were team-mates at Durham in 2000, when Katich struck me as much the more professional.

WITH giant prop Andrew Sheridan as their cornerstone, England's defence of the Rugby World Cup appears to be based on size. That even applies at centre, where the pace and skill of Mathew Tait will be sacrificed to the greater physical presence of Andy Farrell and Danny Hipkiss. I'm not sure I'll bother to watch.