Dunedin - Herschelle Gibbs got his cake on Monday and ate it too with an ominous warning for the New Zealand cricket bowlers.
The prolific South African opening batsman turned 30 to a special dressing room candle-blowing ceremony at Carisbrook on Monday, prompting his captain Graeme Smith to quip: "I can't believe he's 30."
The man known as the team's "likeable larrikin", who has 4694 one-day runs from 146 matches at 35.3, including 12 centuries, predicted he would only mature with age.
"It's just a number you know. I still feel like I'm 24, 25.
From a cricketing point of view guys tend to play their best cricket when they're 30 and above, so hopefully the best years are still to come," Gibbs said.
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Gibbs, one of world cricket's most destructive batsmen when in form, is well known for enjoying a good time.
But he insisted that the birthday celebrations would hold until Tuesday night, after South Africa's fourth one-day international against New Zealand, despite the tempting lure of Dunedin's student orientation week.
"It's the actual birthday, turning 30, that concerns me more. We had an early birthday party on Saturday but it's just a normal day before the game.
"I'll have to wait until Tuesday after the game and from what I've seen it's a good place to go out."
Gibbs showed glimpses of his best form in Wellington on Friday, smashing 69 off 64 balls before offering a soft catch off Scott Styris as his team went on to lose by five runs.
He felt his balance at the crease was returning and he was hitting the ball as well as ever, a dangerous sign for New Zealand's bowlers with Carisbrook's short side boundaries.
"The last time we played here the wicket was very good and hopefully the ball will come on well Tuesday.
"The size of the boundaries have never really been an issue for me. I like to think I can match it with the biggest." - Sapa-dpa
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