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'Unfit And Overweight' - Ex-South African Attacks Temba Bavuma, Compares Fitness To Indians

image-lqnc36uyTemba Bavuma walked off the field in Centurion (AP Photo)

Herschelle Gibbs made a direct attack on South African red-ball coach Shukri Conrad and skipper Temba Bavuma after the latter's unfortunate injury mishap on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test against India in Centurion on Tuesday (December 26). 

Gibbs accused Conrad of failing to spot "clearly unfit" and "overweight" players in the Proteas' line-up, indirectly claiming Bavuma is one of them even as the injury was mainly external as the captain pulled his hamstring while going for a save in the first session of the rain-marred afternoon against the Indians. 

Scans revealed the home team skipper has developed a left hamstring strain with a statement from Cricket South Africa (CSA) confirming he will be undergoing daily medical evaluation to determine his participation in the rest of the Test match. 


Gibbs Targets Bavuma In A Shocking Attack 

Gibbs, however, grinded his axe with Bavuma and Conrad and questioned the two on the team's fielding and fitness standards. The former opener raised doubts on Proteas' physique on the cricket field, stating some players are carrying extra weight, including the new Test skipper. 

Gibbs followed his claim by reminding everyone that Conrad started off his career as a trainer back in time and shouldn't be making such mistakes. 

"Iconic that the coach allows some players, who are clearly unfit and overweight to play when he started off as Proteas trainer in 2009," Gibbs tweeted. 



When a fan accused the ex-cricketer of needlessly targeting the coach-captain duo and upholding his "hate" for them in the matter rather than being rational and supportive, Gibbs insisted it was not hate but a genuine concern that he was expressing. 

The former right-hander said the Indian team is fitter than the South Africans now and lauded modern-day giant Virat Kohli for establishing such a culture. 

"Even India is fitter than us now," he tweeted. "Simply because Virat installed the fitness mindset."