Date-stamped : 05 Dec96 - 14:15 4 December 1996 Gibbs New Talent For South Africa By Peter Robinson Nagpur - When Herschelle Gibbs reached his first hundred against India A here yesterday, a lofted straight six nearly took out Bob Woolmer, at that point sitting in the radio commentary box. Gibbs`second hundred came by way of a pushed single, ensuring that the South African coach would be both a safer and a happier man. Gibbs ended the first day of South Africa`s three-day game against India A on exactly 200 not out, his first double century, his highest first-class score and the seventh hundred of a career which now seems about to take off. It came two days after his Test debut had ended at Eden Gardens with an emphatic win for South Africa and while neither the pitch nor the Indian bowling yesterday were particularly hostile, he was able fashion an innings which suggests he may be maturing as a player far quicker than many suspected was possible even a year ago. "People talk about Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar, but I think Herschelle`s a pretty special talent," said Woolmer yesterday evening of the 22-year-old who first came to prominence as a teenage prodigy. With Gibbs in wonderful form, South Africa reached stumps after scoring at more than a minute throughout the day. Hansie Cronje chipped in with 53 at the top of the innings and Derek Crookes contributed 76 out of a fifth wicket partner- ship of 215, but it was undeniably Gibbs` day. "I was disappointed with my performances in my first Test," he said last night. "In the first innings I felt a bit tense and nervous and in the second I just got myself out." Tension and nervousness are not two qualities usually associated with Gibbs, but there were hints of anxiety as he reached 198 shortly before the close and lost the strike to Dave Richardson. He claimed afterwards that he had always been confident of reach- ing the second century - "I knew I needed just a few more balls and that I`d get them in singles" - but there was a distinct sense of relief when the one he needed finally came from a push off Ganesh. His innings was better characterised by a dazzling array of shots all around the wicket with one drive high over cover and into the top tier of the stand off Ganesh perhaps the most amazing stoke of the tour. "I wasn`t really happy with the way the bowler was looking at me." he said. "He said a few things and I didn`t really like it. So I thought: `The next one that`s up, it`ll go.` And it went quite far. I didn`t say anything. I just thought `Take that`." In all, Gibbs had helped himself to 28 fours and four sixes and the only disappointments on another splendid day for South Africa were the failures of Daryll Cullinan (11) and Brian McMillan, who was out second ball. Cullinan came into the game on the back of an unbeaten 153 at Eden Gardens and is hardly a cause for con- cern. McMillan, however, cannot get going with the bat on this tour and he had a fairly lengthy net after the close last night. The big all-rounder has bowled well and fielded magnificently in the first two Tests. All the same, South Africa would like a few more runs from the No 6 at Kanpur next week. Contributed by Ros.Brodie (tcb@iafrica.com)