Lance Gibbs is astonishingly fit and agile at 76. His eyes reveal his intensity, his sense of humour reflects his spirit.
The tall Gibbs posed severe tests of temperament and skill to the batsmen with his turn, bounce and that precious ability to use the crease.
The exceptional off-spinner could send down long spells without tiring, dismiss batsmen with his bite, accuracy, patience and guile.
A path-breaking bowler, Gibbs was the first spinner to go past the 300-wicket mark in Tests. “It was a lot of hard work,” he says showing his long, spinning forefinger.
In an illustrious Test career stretching from 1958 to '76, Gibbs claimed 309 wickets at 29.09 with 18 five-wicket and two ten-wicket match hauls.
Sensational fielder
His outstanding economy rate of 1.98 underlines his control. The man from Guyana — celebrated West Indian captain Clive Lloyd is Gibbs' cousin — gave little away. The athletic Gibbs was also a sensational fielder at gully. It was hard to keep him out of the game.
Based in Miami, Gibbs continues to journey to the Caribbean for international matches, often invited by sponsors. And he has strong views.
Ask him about the doosra and Gibbs points to his right elbow and says, “That's not bowling man.”
He's not particularly pleased with the 15 degree flexion rule. “If it had been in place when I played, Charlie Griffith (the paceman had a dubious action) would have been the king. I don't understand what they say about the action being visible to the naked eye.”
Gibbs is in favour of the umpires ‘calling' bowlers on the field of play. “If the umpire calls a bowler, then things move much quicker. The bowler is embarrassed, so is the team.”
Probed about country versus club conflict, Gibbs responds, “Of course, it is country. It is because a cricketer plays for his country that he gets noticed. He should never forget that. Country always comes first.”
He refuses to believe that Twenty20 cricket can leave the players tired. “I would want to bowl all 20 overs! Four overs per bowler? I would not even have got started!”
The off-spinning great talks about the uniqueness of West Indian cricket.
“We are different countries separated by water. Cricket binds us together. We need to show pride. There was a lot of pride when I played.”
Queried about the most challenging batsman he bowled at, Gibbs replies, “Ian Chappell was the man. He would come down the track, use his feet.”
And the legendary Gary Sobers is the finest cricketer he has seen.
“He was the best, without a doubt. He was a complete player.”
Fond memories
He has fond memories of India and the hard-fought 1974-75 series which the West Indies won 3-2 in the final Test in Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. Gibbs' seven-wicket innings haul in the decider proved a series clinching effort.
Gibbs has a lot of time and respect for Tiger Pataudi's aggressive captaincy and batting. “He had great style,” remembers Gibbs.
He believes the West Indies cricket would rise again. “It's a cycle man,” he signs off.
