Lack of confidence Gibbs's problem: Hudson

Herschelle Gibbs's defences are breached ... yet again © Getty Images Enlarge

Andrew Hudson, the former South African opening batsman, reckons that Herschelle Gibbs's poor run is a result of lack of confidence and footwork. Gibbs has been dropped from the South African squad, citing mental fatigue after scoring just 546 at 27.30 from his last 13 Tests.

"Everyone goes through such a slump. Herschelle is not the first or last batsman who will lose his confidence," Hudson, who played 35 Tests in the 1990s at an average of 33.45, told News24. Husdon also suggested that Gibbs's technical flaws made him especially susceptible early in his innings. "It appears as if Herschelle is not in line with the ball when he plays his shot. If there is any sideways movement, he isn't in line and he must virtually guess where the ball is going. It makes it easier for him to miss the ball."

Gibbs has been bowled nine times in his last 14 innings, and Hudson indicated that a possible remedy to that problem could to take middle-stump guard. "He could get more LBWs against him, but at least he would have given himself a chance to be in line with the ball."

Hashim Amla has been preferred to Gibbs for the second Test against New Zealand at Cape Town and will bat at No.3, while Boeta Dippenaar will take Gibbs's place at the top of the order.