Ottis Gibson

Ottis Gibson back for third stint with England in bigger role?

South Africa coach Ottis Gibson has said ‘life will go on’ regardless of whether he delivers the Proteas maiden Cricket World Cup triumph.

The former England bowling has been thrown into the reckoning to replace Trevor Bayliss when he steps down after the Ashes, and Gibson stated he always enjoyed his time with England.

“My contract is up in September,” Gibson told BBC Sport.

“I’m happy to be linked with any job, because after that I might not have a job.

“I’ve been living in England for over 20 years, so that’s the answer.

“I enjoyed both my stints with England. I know a lot of the guys in the dressing room.”

Acting as bowling coach in separate stints spread across Peter Moores and Bayliss’ time in charge, Gibson claimed credit for the job he had done in laying the foundations for England to move into World Cup contention.

“The way they are playing at the moment, I was very much involved in that for the first two years and they have gone on two years since I left.”

Leaving the employ of the ECB in 2017 to assume coaching duties with Cricket South Africa, the 57-year-old played down the pressure resting on his shoulders as the Proteas go in search of attaining an unprecedented World crown.

“I don’t feel that at all,” Gibson added, when asked if the tournament would be boom or bust for his tenure.

“At the end of the day, it’s just cricket. If we play well enough to win, we could win. If we don’t, life goes on.”

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