Ottis Gibson

This article is about the West Indian cricketer. For the Methodist missionary, see Otis Gibson.

Ottis Gibson

Personal information
Full name	Ottis Delroy Gibson
Born	(1969-03-16) 16 March 1969 Saint Peter, Barbados
Height
Batting style	Right-handed
Bowling style	Right arm fast
International information
National side	West Indies
Test debut (cap 210)	22 June 1995 v England
Last Test	6 January 1999 v South Africa
ODI debut (cap 73)	28 May 1995 v England
Last ODI	3 May 1997 v India
Domestic team information
Years	Team
2006–2007	Durham
2004–2005	Leicestershire
2000–2001	Gauteng
1998–2000	Griqualand West
1994–1996	Glamorgan
1992–1995	Border
1990–1998	Barbados
Career statistics
Competition Tests ODI FC LA Matches 2 15 177 212 Runs scored 93 141 5,604 2,548 Batting average 23.25 14.10 24.25 21.05 100s/50s 0/0 0/1 2/29 1/5 Top score 37 52 155 102* Balls bowled 472 739 32,441 9,807 Wickets 3 34 659 310 Bowling average 91.66 18.26 27.79 24.30 5 wickets in innings – 2 28 5 10 wickets in match – n/a 8 n/a Best bowling 2/81 5/40 10/47 5/19 Catches/stumpings 0/– 3/– 68/– 59/–
Source: , 15 February 2009

Ottis Delroy Gibson (born 16 March 1969) is a cricket coach and former player from Barbados. A pace bowler and exploiter of the older cricket ball for the West Indies, Gibson is now the temporary bowling coach for the England cricket team. From 2010-2014, Gibson was the head coach for the West Indies, and previously worked as permanent bowling coach for England until 2010.

International career

Gibson made two Test appearances for the West Indies. In his first outing against England in 1995, he picked up the wickets of Alec Stewart and Darren Gough in the first innings, finishing with figures of 2-81, but was less successful in the second with 0-51. With the bat he made 29 and 14, as the West Indies slumped to a 72-run defeat.

His second appearance came in 1999 against South Africa. He took the wicket of Jacques Kallis in the first innings to end with 1-92, but in the second innings, again finished with 0-51. He made his highest Test score of 37 during his first knock, and made 13 before being run out in his second. South Africa eventually won by 149 runs.

Gibson was seen primarily as a one-day specialist - "his hard-hitting late middle-order batting was particularly effective in the closing overs of the innings." He played in 15 One Day Internationals, top scoring with 52 against Australia and taking best figures of 5-42 against Sri Lanka. He took another 5 wicket haul against the same opposition and two four-fors, finishing with an impressive bowling average of 18.26.

Cricketing career

Gibson's county cricket career saw him play for Glamorgan before taking up coaching with the ECB after a series of niggling injuries. However, he returned to playing with Leicestershire in 2004. In 2006, he moved to Durham. As well as playing for three South African provincial sides, Gibson has also made appearances for Staffordshire.

Gibson signed a two-year contract with Durham in 2006. In his first season, he picked up 48 wickets and recorded a highest first-class score of 155, to keep his side in the division.

On 22 July 2007, he took 10/47 against Hampshire, becoming the 79th bowler in first-class cricket to take 10 wickets in an innings and the first in the County Championship since Richard Johnson in 1994:

Wicket	Batsman	How Out	Score	Total
1	Michael Carberry	caught by Ben Harmison	4	13-1
2	John Crawley	caught by Philip Mustard	6	29-2
3	Michael Lumb	lbw	16	65-3
4	Chris Benham	bowled	2	67-4
5	Nic Pothas	caught and bowled	0	67-5
6	Dimitri Mascarenhas	caught by Philip Mustard	8	81-6
7	Shane Warne	lbw	1	85-7
8	Shaun Udal	caught by Philip Mustard	4	89-8
9	David Griffiths	caught by Philip Mustard	2	115-9
10	James Bruce	bowled	0	115

Hampshire finished 115 all out, and Gibson walked away with astonishing figures of 17.3-1-47-10. Despite this feat, the match ended in a draw.

Later in 2007, Gibson bowled Durham to victory, again against Hampshire, in the Friends Provident Trophy. After setting 312 to win, with Gibson smashing fifteen off just seven balls, the Dynamos bowled out the Hawks for just 187. Gibson had Michael Lumb and Sean Ervine caught by Michael Di Venuto first and second ball of the innings respectively, both for 0. He then had Kevin Pietersen out lbw for 12 to leave Hampshire 17-3, finishing with figures of 3-24. He picked up the Player of the Match award for his efforts. Gibson remarked after the game, "Unbelievable. But we've got four games left and if I'm going to get through them I'm going to have to cut down on the celebrations a little bit."

Coaching

England Bowling Coach

2007 Sri Lanka

On 20 September 2007 Gibson was appointed as England's bowling coach for the one-day series in Sri Lanka because Allan Donald had commentary duties in South Africa. He had previously worked with Peter Moores at the National Academy during the past two winters. England won the five match ODI series 3-2. The series was low scoring, with England restricting Sri Lanka to 164 and 211 twice in three of the games. At the end of the one-day series in Sri Lanka, Gibson was appointed full-time as England's bowling coach, effectively ending his playing career. England lost the three match Test series 1-0, and although Sri Lanka were once restricted to 188, they also posted scores of 499 and 548.

2008 New Zealand

In 2008 England lost the T20 series against New Zealand 2-0. The also lost the ODI series 3-1, although this was largely down to poor batting, although New Zealand scored 340 in the fourth match. They won the three match Test series 2-1 and dismissed for New Zealand for 198 and 168 in two of their innings. New Zealand toured England for the return series. New Zealand won the ODI series between the two sides 3-1, although New Zealand were restricted to less than 200 twice. England won the T20 match between the sides as they dismissed New Zealand for just 123.

2008 South Africa

In July South Africa toured England for a four-match Test series. England lost 2-1 in a high scoring series, although bowling South Africa out for 194. In the five match ODI series England won 4-0. They put in two excellent bowling performances during the series which included bowling out South Africa for 83 and 170. England then toured India for a five match ODI series, which they lost 5-0. Although England conceded 387 in one game, the rest of the series was fairly low scoring. They went on to lose the two Test series 1-0, with the England bowlers unable to force a win.

2009 West Indies

England toured Gibson's native West Indies in 2009, although they lost the five match Test series 1-0. This was down to England's bowlers being unable to dismiss the West Indies cheaply, with the hosts scoring 392, 370 and 749. England were unable to force a win in the final game of the series with the West Indies 114-8. England lost the only T20 match between the two sides. When the West Indies toured England for the return series, England won the Test series 2-0, with the West Indies being dismissed for less than 200 twice. England went on to win the ODI series 2-0, with England bowlers again performing well.

2009 T20 World Cup and Australia

England qualified from the Group stage of the 2009 T20 World Cup, despite losing to the Netherlands. They were knocked out at the Super Eights stage but the bowling remained economical, with only India scoring over 150. They then beat Australia in the Ashes. Although Australia scored 674 in the first Test, the bowling improved and they dismissed Australia for 215 and 160 later on the series to win it 2-1. They lost the one day series 6-1, although Australia only passed 300 once. However, England also only managed to bowl Australia out once.

2009 Champions Trophy and South Africa

England reached the semi finals of the Champions Trophy, but they lost it to Australia with the Australians finishing up on 258-1. Gibson's final tour with England was against South Africa. England won the ODI series 2-1, which included bowling South Africa out for 119. The T20 series finished 1-1, with South Africa posting 241 in the first game. The four-match Test series finished 1-1, with South Africa being bowled out for 133 in the second game to help England win. The series proved to Gibson's last as bowling coach, as it was announced that Gibson would be leaving his England post to take up a new role as head coach of the West Indies.

West Indies head coach

2010

Gibson's leadership of the West Indies team got off to a bad start after they lost a five-match ODI series against Australia 4–0 and then lost both games of the two-match T20 series. However, the West Indies performed better in their ODI series against Zimbabwe, winning 4-1. Gibson led West Indies into the 2010 T20 World Cup and guided the team into the super eights stage, where they were eliminated. The West Indies endured a nightmare time when South Africa toured, losing the ODI series 5–0, the T20 series 2-0 and the three-match Test series 2-0. They performed better in the longer format of the game against Sri Lanka, earning a 0-0 draw, but lost the ODI series 2–0.

2011

Gibson led the West Indies into the 2011 World Cup, guiding them to the quarter finals where they lost against Pakistan. When Pakistan toured the West Indies, the two-match Test series ended in a draw. Although the West Indies lost the ODI series 3-2 they won the T20 match between the sides. They then lost the T20 match against India and lost the ODI series 3-2. India also won the Test series 1-0 to sensual they won in all three formats. The West Indies did better against Bangladesh. After drawing the T20 series, they won the ODI series 2-1 and secured a 1-0 victory in the Test series. They again suffered at the hands of India at the end of the year, losing the three-match Test series 2-0 and the ODI series 4-1.

2012

Against Australia they lost the three match 2-0 but improved to draw the ODI series 2-2. In the tour of England, they failed to impress, losing the Test series 2-0, the ODI series 2-0 and the one off T20 match. Their fortunes improved when they played New Zealand at home, as they won the ODI series 4-1 and the Test series 2-0. Their improved from continued when they won the 2012 T20 World Cup. After qualifying from the group despite not winning a game, they won two of their three super eights match to qualify for the semi finals. Here they beat Australia, before beating Sri Lanka in the final to win the tournament for the first time. They beat Banglasesh 2-0 in a three match Test series, and although they lost the ODI series 3-2, they won the T20 game between the two sides.

2013

In 2013 the West Indies Indies enjoyed a series of emphatic victories over Zimbabwe. They won the ODI series 3-0, the T20 series 2-0 and the two match Test series 2-0. However, they were unable to carry their good from into Champions Trophy as they were eliminated at the Group Stage of the competition. They then played Pakistan in an ODI series at home, but lost the series 3-1 and went on to lose the T20 series 2-0. They then travelled to India where they lost the Test series 2-0 and the ODI series 2-1. They then toured New Zealand but suffered a 3-0 Test series defeat. They also lost the T20 series 2-0, although improved in the ODI series to earn a 2-2 draw.

2014

In 2014 England toured the West Indies for a three-match ODI series, which England won 2-1. However, the West Indies won the T20 series 2-1. The West Indies were unable to defend their T20 World Cup crown. Although they progressed from the super ten stage, winning three of their four matches, they lost out to Sri Lanka in the semi-finals. Gibson's final series came against New Zealand. They lost the Test series 2-1 and drew the T20 series 1-1. Gibson was sacked from his job soon afterwards.

Return to England Bowling Coach

2015 West Indies and New Zealand

Gibson was reappointed England bowling coach for the upcoming West Indies tour on 26 March 2015. After bowling the West Indies out for 295 in their first innings, the England bowlers were unable to force a victory in the second innings. England performed well in the next match, bowling out the West Indies twice to win the match. However, they lost the last match due to a batting collapse and the West Indies won the match by five wickets.

England won the first Test against New Zealand thanks to bowling them out for 220 in their second innings. In the second Test between the two sides England's bowling was less impressive and they eventually went on to lose the game, with New Zealand scoring at a quick run rate. England won the ODI series 3-2, and although New Zealand did post some high scores, England restricted them to just 198 in the first game and 283 in the final game between the sides. Despite the high scores, it was generally accepted that the new look England bowling attack had performed well. England also went on to win the only T20 match between the sides.

2015 Australia

Gibson remained as England bowling coach for the Ashes. After England won the first Test, they lost the second by 405 runs. In the third Test England regained the lead with James Anderson taking 6-47 in Australia's first innings and Steven Finn taking 6-79 in their second innings. England's bowlers were instrumental in England winning the fourth Test, with Stuart Broad taking 8-15 to help England dismiss Australia for 60 and Ben Stokes taking 6-36 in the second innings as England secured a victory by a margin of an innings and 78 runs. England lost the final match of the series by an innings, but won the series 3-2 to regain the Ashes, largely thanks to impressive bowling from England's bowlers.