Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Part 7
Pratham: You went to Australia after the 68-69 England series. This was Wes and Charlie
Last tour.
Pratham: And you did the first test, which was in Brisbane, a wicker 8 in the match
Set up a victory.
Pratham: Do you remember that performance by Brisbane?
Lance Gibbs: Number
Pratham: OK.
Pratham: It was now the only victory that would have the western Indies on this tour. They would end
Losing this series in Australia the ’68 -69 for a decent margin: 3-1.
Lance Gibbs: It must have been drinking (both laughs)!
Pratham: There are reports on how this was not a very happy tour in ’68 –69. Sir Garry spoke
About how 30 catches were dropped.
Lance Gibbs: What?
Pratham: In 4 tests, yes.
Pratham: It was considered to be a very hard tour. I guess from your memories now –
Judging your memories, don’t you remember much about the series?
Lance Gibbs: (Shakes head)
Pratham: No?
Pratham: Well, there was a period of your career we would enter after this Australian tour where
You had some fall in your shape.
Pratham: This is from ’69 to ’71.
Pratham: You traveled New Zealand, England and then to India at home.
Pratham: Your figures from most of your career were really good but there was this period
Three -year period, where …
Lance Gibbs: They were not very good.
Pratham: Is not very good, at all, really
((Note: Lance Gibbs Bowling Record of your International
The debut until the end of the Australian tour of 1968 in 43 games was 191 doctors to an average of
25.19. Between New Zealand tour from February 1969 to loss
In India in 1971, where he only played one game in Guyana and was fallen from the rest, lance
Gibbs took 8 doctors with an average of 56.11).
Pratham: I remember when we last discussed you had an injury I saw photos
Pass your index finger: The index finger you would use to rotate (the ball).
Pratham: I remember a picture that goes back around 69.
Pratham: Feel that the lack of results in that period of time may be reduced to this injury
Have you had?
Lance Gibbs: Yes, the light bulb.
Pratham: And would you say that it was mainly a part of having to dump so many big ones?
Lance Gibbs: Could be.
Pratham: There are obviously so many factors involved, but it seems that if you are injured …
Lance Gibbs: Yes.
Pratham: You will probably not be able to give your best.
Pratham: Well, returning to the time of the fall of your shape, you were left out of all but
Match against India at home in 1970-71.
Pratham: Jack Noreiga was chosen instead of you and was outside the spri. Just played
That series and was quite old at this time.
Pratham: India would really win its first series abroad on this tour. Would win
This series 1-0. You played a game: You didn’t take a wick in that particular game.
Pratham: The reasons why the coaches gave you because they had been dropped from the side, you are fine
With them? How did you catch it? How did you try to bounce in this situation?
Lance Gibbs: Once I decided to continue playing, I will continue to enter the side.
Pratham: So you felt that even though they had fallen …
Lance Gibbs: I could go back.
Pratham: And you have made a comeback, 73, that is. Now Australia won the series 2-0 but
You took 26 doctors in a home series against them.
Pratham: What did you feel like you were the most responsible for returning -you to train?
Lance Gibbs: Probably check your finger.
Pratham: I see, I see it. Just enough.
Pratham: Ian Chappell was the captain of this tour. And said it was an interesting series to
that there were certain circumstances that did not expect to win but ended
Putting a 2-0 defeat for the western Indies.
Pratham: And Doug Walters marked a 100th in this tour in a session.
Lance Gibbs: I remember him. Batted at number 6
(Note: While Doug Walters beat at number 6 on
Battle order for most of the tour, was promoted to beat at number 4 of the 3rd test where he
marked a 100 in a session after Ian Chappell moved to the battle order at number 6 after
tearing the ankle).
Pratham: Chappell talks about a battle in that entry of that tour where Doug Walters was
Playing -you are on a spin surface and fights you very well.
Pratham: What Doug was that allowed him to mark so many runs against the west
Indies and in particular?
Lance Gibbs: Doug Walters … He was not a coward. He would have possibilities. And I would
He probably moves away with him, like that day.
Pratham: Did you play a lot out of the back foot?
Lance gibbs: When a friend like this would play on the backfoot you have to come
Go ahead!
Pratham: Right, correct.
Pratham: Well your final series in England was 73.
Pratham: But you had constantly played in England for many years earlier.
Pratham: I was looking at the time you spent bowling in Warwickshire.
Lance Gibbs: Warwickshire, yes.
Pratham: You had signed up there in Bowl in the County (Cricket). How was your experience
Bowling on the county cricket?
Lance Gibbs: Very different, very different. It was like playing another game.
Pratham: How was Birmingham? You have stayed there …
Lance Gibbs: Yes, I lived there until I lived here.
Pratham: So how was it?
Lance Gibbs: Well, well – Very good! They treated me well.
Pratham: Were there any adjustments you had to do as Guyana there?
Lance Gibbs: No, no. My kids went to school there.
Pratham: They liked there: your kids?
Lance Gibbs: Oh, yes, oh, yes. My daughter is a lawyer …
Pratham: When you had this Warwickshire, Wisden Almanack named you one of its five
Cricketers of the year.
Pratham: There is an art traditionally English spinners would have the drift of the ball
From the right hand while coming down the wick. So the ball would be here and then curve
Back a little.
Pratham: And they said you had begun to do it at the County Cricket at that time of 72.
Pratham: Do you remember what type of change caused this change?
Lance Gibbs: To bowling or battle, to get to the top, you must bring certain things
This, you know, you are not used to doing it.
Lance Gibbs: When I did this, I was seeing something that would be successful with.
Pratham: I see it so you’ve seen some other English spinner …
Lance Gibbs: Yes, yes.
Pratham: In this way around the wick and this is the type that caused it.
To continue …………
