HERSCHELLE Gibbs says Proteas captain Graeme Smith has sent him an SMS from Dubai questioning his assertion in his autobiography To The Point that Smith had too much influence over the national team.
Gibbs said in a radio interview with CapeTalk’s Aden Thomas today that Smith had sent him an sms that asked: “Too powerful?” Gibbs said he had replied by telling Smith that “that is what I think”.
Asked if he still wanted to be picked to play for the Proteas in next year’s World Cup, Gibbs said: “I can’t see the current squad changing for the World Cup. If it happens, it happens, if it doesn’t, it doesn’t.”
Meanwhile, at the book’s media launch at Pigalle in Green Point last night, publishers Zebra Press announced that the first printing had been sold out. However, publicist Kim Taylor would not reveal how many books had been sold.
The book has rattled a few cages, with descriptions of team orgies, drug abuse and details on match fixing.
Cricket South Africa, with which Gibbs is contracted until April, said yesterday that the book was being scrutinised by their lawyers.
Gibbs, 36, seemed unfazed by the announcement, casually signing copies of his book. “I simply told my story over the last 20-odd years and I speak about my life as a cricketer and my time in rehab for alcoholism.”
In the book, Gibbs refers to Smith as “too powerful” and the leader of a clique running the team during Mickey Arthur’s tenure as coach from 2005 to 2010.
Smith, who is with the national team in Dubai for a series against Pakistan, said he was disappointed in Gibbs but a place in the team would be there for him if he had an open discussion with the team.