Gibson hails 'perfect' season

Ottis Gibson took 80 wickets in the LV County Championship

Durham all-rounder Ottis Gibson has had a remarkable season by anyone’s standards and it comes as no surprise that he ends the summer firmly in the running to be named PCA player of the year on Monday.

Gibson took 80 wickets in the LV County Championship - including all 10 in an innings against Hampshire - and combined it with 578 runs. In one-day competitions, he took a further 36 wickets, taking his overall tally to a magnificent 116 across the board.

But the 38-year-old is unable to put his finger on why this rich vein of form has come at this stage of his career, seeing several reasons for his achievements.

“Certainly for me, the last couple of years spent coaching has made a difference to my approach to the way I play now,” he told ecb.co.uk.

“Sometimes you may search a lifetime for what you might consider is perfection. If I look back, this year has certainly been that way. It has probably been a perfect season for me.

Gibson has led Durham's seam bowling attack in all domestic competitions © Getty Images

“I’ve bowled well without any pressure and when I go on the field, I always try to make a massive contribution to the team.

“It’s a team effort and I’ve led the bowling attack this year, which is what was required.

“That’s what I would put it down to, I think - taking responsibility for the rest of the lads.”

Gibson also helped Durham to their first Lord’s final and eventual success in the Friends Provident Trophy.

“To play the way we did against Hampshire, and the confidence we showed, was fantastic,” he added. “Nobody was overawed by the situation at all, which was brilliant.”

His overall contribution with bat and ball for Durham has seen him there or thereabouts in the PCA MVP rankings for much of the season - something of which he is very proud.

“Everybody keeps an eye on the rankings,” he admitted. “You are constantly getting updates on who has done what.

“That means you can see who the consistent performers are week in and week out. To be top of the rankings means I’ve been consistent in my own performances. It means a lot to me.”

Consistency is seen by Gibson as an important part of any cricketer’s armoury and is something on which he has been working hard.

Gibson has also contributed with the bat for Durham

“Certainly with my bowling I’ve got a lot more consistent with my preparation over the years,” he acknowledged.

“The coaching has given me a good insight. If you want to be consistent, you have got to be consistent in your routines.

“I’ve devised a routine which works for me and it has shown in the results I’ve had all season.”

Gibson’s coaching pedigree, combined with his exceptional personal efforts on the field this season has seen him called into the England coaching set-up for the forthcoming one-day international tour of Sri Lanka.

“I was absolutely delighted,” Gibson enthused. “Since 2001 I have worked for the ECB in some capacity and then for the last two years I have been working with Peter Moores at the national academy. He knows what I’m capable of, so to be asked by him to come and get involved is fantastic for me and I’m really, really looking forward to it.

Gibson will be taking over from Allan Donald as temporary bowling consultant, with Donald having already committed himself as a commentator for South Africa’s tour of Pakistan during the same period

The West Indian is not sure what to expect from his new role and will be taking each task as it comes, saying: “I’m just going to see how it goes.

“One-day cricket is a batsman’s game anyway. In one-day cricket, if you get hit a few times, you mustn’t start believing you are a bad bowler because of a few bad spells.

“For me, it is just going to be trying to build the confidence of the lads again.”