South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs has been dropped from the Test team ahead of its two remaining matches to be played against New Zealand.
After poor series against Australia in Australia and South Africa, Gibbs could only manage six and two in the first Test against the Black Caps, and has consequently been axed..jpg)
South African chief selector Haroon Lorgat admitted that there was no other alternative but to drop Gibbs from the team with the view of collecting himself ahead of a packed 2006-07 season.
"We had a meeting and agreed that a break and a fresh start next season will do him a world of good," Lorgat told BBC Sport.
Seam bowler Garnett Kruger has also felt the selector's wrath after also being omitted from the squad for the Cape Town and Johannesburg matches.
Lorgat revealed that it was tough to keep him in the squad with the fine performances that have come from some of the other quick bowlers.
"With the outstanding performances of Makhaya Ntini and Dale Steyn in that match, and with Andre Nel in reserve, we have decided to release him," he said.
"At the start of the series we carried an unusually large squad of 16 players. We are now able to reduce the squad to 14 players and will reduce it further to 13 for the last Test."
