Herschelle Gibbs keen to see progress of Dewald Brevis in England series

The 22-year-old Brevis showed his incredible ball-striking ability when he slammed a maiden international century (125 not out) off just 56 balls in the second T20I in Darwin and followed that up with 53 from 26 deliveries in the final game of the series.

Brevis was then given his ODI debut Down Under and had scores of 6 and 1 in the first two matches before a promising knock of 49 from 28 balls showed a glimpse of what the middle-order batter is capable of in the 50-over format.

Gibbs, who scored more that 14 600 runs in international cricket across the three formats and played with an attacking mindset, believes it will be good for the development of Brevis to be tested in England conditions, especially in what will be late in the season in the UK summer.

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Brevis played in England earlier this year when he joined county side Hampshire for eight matches in the T20 Blast, scoring 166 runs in eight innings at a strike-rate of more than 180 and a highest score of 68.

"It's important for him as a young batsman to play in various types of conditions," Gibbs said. "I know he had couple of good innings in the Blast but England later summer can be a different kettle of fish.

"He is playing with a lot of confidence at the moment and his striking ability is fantastic. Your first year or two in international cricket is always the easiest because bowlers are still trying to find a weakness.

"The test will come when the wickets aren't as good as in Australia. It will be nice for him to get tested in these conditions, late summer in the UK. It is all part of maturing as a batter and realising how good he is on various types of wickets. But he is playing with a lot of confidence at the moment, which is nice."

With the three-match ODI series set to get underway in Leeds on Tuesday, Gibbs feels it is imperative that the Proteas top-order give the team solid starts with conditions being in favour of the bowlers early on.

Aiden Markram has been shifted up the order to open the innings in both white-ball formats and Gibbs says the 30-year-old is now experienced enough to make the required adjustments.

"We all know opening the batting is the most difficult, irrespective if it's white-ball or Test cricket," Gibbs added. "I think, technically he is good. I feel a little bit of sympathy for him for not being consistently played in one position.

"The main thing is that they are telling him that he is going to be opening. Once he knows that I think he's been around long enough to make the necessary adjustment. On his day, he is still out best batsman in the Proteas team."

Herschelle Gibbs was chatting on behalf of 10bet. For more information, visit https://www.10bet.co.za/