Yorkshire sign Gibbs to bolster Twenty20 ambitions

South African veteran Gibbs has joined Yorkshire for the sole purpose of helping the club achieve success in the game's richest format.

The county have already signed Australian pace bowler Ryan Harris for all forms of the game in 2010, and New Zealand's Daryl Tuffey as cover during Harris's spell at Deccan Chargers in the Indian Premier League at the start of the English season.

Gibbs, who turns 36 today, is a team-mate of Harris at Deccan and was the second highest run scorer in the IPL last year. He was also the first man to hit six sixes in an over in a World Cup match in 2007.

Gibbs arrives at Yorkshire in time for their game against Durham Dynamoes on June 10, the date of their third game of the competition.

He will miss the first two Twenty20 matches against Derbyshire Phantoms (June 3) and away at Worcestershire Royals (June 4) but will be available for the remaining 14 group matches and the knockout stages should Yorkshire progress.

Yorkshire have qualified for the quarter-finals in three of the last four years in the Twenty20 Cup, but with the format now expanding due to the abolition of the 50-over game, Regan accepts the prizes on offer in the shorter form of the game are hard to ignore.

"Twenty20 has certainly moved up the pecking order," said Yorkshire's chief executive, who said the counsel of Geoffrey Boycott was sought in the signing of Gibbs. "In terms of priorities, the players will always regard the County Championship as the top of their agenda.

"In terms of personal profile, both financially and playing on the big stage, Twenty20 presents opportunities to play in front of massive crowds and has captured the imagination.

"These signings are an indication of how serious we are about it and how determined we are to do well.

"Somerset and Sussex played in the Champions League last year – Yorkshire County Cricket Club want to be involved in that and we have made the investment to get to that stage.

"Herschelle was being chased by a number of clubs but has opted to join Yorkshire for the 2010 T20 season.

"We've got the second highest run scorer in the IPL and a quality bowler in Ryan Harris, plus some quality players already in the squad."

Gibbs comes with a big reputation as one of the best one-day players in world cricket.

He hit six sixes off Netherlands bowler Daan van Bunge in the 2007 World Cup and later that tournament tied with Ricky Ponting on 28 for the most sixes in World Cup history.

Gibbs has represented South Africa 245 times in one-day internationals and a further 20 times in Twenty20 cricket, scoring his first 50-over World Cup century at Headingley in 1999 in the infamous match when he caught Steve Waugh only to throw the ball in celebration too quickly and reprieve the Australian captain. Waugh went on to make a century.

He was picked up in the 2008 IPL auction by Deccan and although he endured a fallow debut season, he responded in 2009 by producing the most explosive opening partnership with Adam Gilchrist and made 53 off 48 balls in the final against Royal Challengers.

He has played in the English Twenty20 tournament the last two years for Glamorgan, threatening the elusive century mark in a knock of 98 against Northants in 2008.

And he comes to Yorkshire promising to finally break the century barrier.

Gibbs said: "I'm still to get a hundred in Twenty20 and I promised myself I'd get a few before I call it quits one day.

"There's a lot of challenges I'd still like to achieve and I'm probably enjoying my cricket more now than I have ever done.

"I've got very good memories of Headingley, getting my first World Cup 100 there in 1999, despite the catching incident with Mr Waugh!

"I'm looking forward to playing there and leading the troops to success."

Gibbs has had a chequered career. He was banned for six months in 2000 for his part in a match-fixing scandal with former Proteas captain Hansie Cronje, although he refused to carry out instructions to score less than 20 runs and instead made 74 in the third ODI against India.

HERSCHELLE GIBBS FACTFILE

February 23, 1974: Born in Cape Town

October 1996: Represents South Africa for first time in ODI against Kenya

November 1996: Test debut against India

2007 World Cup: Hits six sixes in one over against Holland.

2008/2009: Plays for Glamorgan in Twenty20

January 2008: Last Test game against West Indies

April 2008: Joins Deccan Chargers in the IPL

September 2009: Last appearance in ODI, against England, is his 245th

February 2010: Signs for Yorkshire for 2010 T20 season