I might give up - Gibson

Ottis Gibson is unsure over his future despite his remarkable 10-wicket haul just days ago

Ottis Gibson, the man who took 10 wickets in an innings this week, admits he may not even be playing the game in two months' time.

Gibson became the first player in 13 years to achieve the bowling equivalent of cricketing perfection in the County Championship when he returned figures of 10-47 for Durham against Hampshire at the Riverside.

Not only did he ensure his name will forever adorn the pages of the history books, but he did so at the age of 38, when most cricketers - let alone all-rounders - have long since hung up their boots.

Despite producing the best performance of his career - proof if any was needed that the advancing years are no barrier to him on the field - he revealed his heart may not be so willing.

“To take 10 wickets is unbelievable - it really is something special,” Gibson told ecb.co.uk.

“It's such a rare feat and not many people have done it. For it to happen to you at any time in your life is really exciting, but for it to happen to me at my time in life is especially pleasing.

Gibson's delight at his recent feat is all the more special given his age © Getty Images

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“I’m in the second year of a two-year contract at Durham and I’ve had chats with the chief executive about next season.

“But I don't even know if I want to keep playing cricket or not.”

While Gibson admits he is “very happy to be a fast bowler who can do that”, he is aware that he is highly unlikely to top Sunday’s remarkable feat.

Lifting the Friends Provident Trophy in August would cap the finest season of his career, and it is such a prospect which may convince him to call it a day.

“We’re in the final against Hampshire next month and we’ve got a great chance of winning that,” he added.

“If we could go on and do that, then I might think to myself, ‘It can't get better than this’, so why carry on playing?

“You never know what's going to happen, but you always have to think about the future.

“If an interesting opportunity presents itself, then you never know," he said.

Although Gibson gave no clues as to what that opportunity may be, he impressed sufficiently with his coaching to land a role with the England Academy squad during Peter Moores' reign as Academy director.

Gibson in action on his Test debut against England at Lord's in 1995 © Getty Images

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Gibson, who leads the way in the Professional Cricketers' Association rankings following his recent exploits, refers to his 10-wicket haul as a “special moment” in his career, but he insists it is not the highest point.

Indeed, as keen as Gibson is to taste success with Durham – he admitted their failure to beat Hampshire took some of the gloss off his own achievement – he is adamant not even a first one-day trophy for the county would surpass the moment he pulled on a West Indies shirt.

“Playing for your country is a different thing altogether,” revealed Gibson, who appeared in two Tests and 15 one-day internationals in the late 1990s.

“I’m a proud West Indian and I was lucky enough to play for the West Indies - that was something I wanted to do when from when I was a little boy.

“There are a lot of first-class cricketers who never represent their country, but I've been lucky enough to do that.

“Playing for the West Indies tops everything. It's the biggest thing to happen to me and it will always go down as the highlight of my career.”

That may be so, but Gibson’s exploits this week came a mightily close second.