Herschelle Gibbs is "ready to rock and roll" after his recall to the South African team for the second Castle Lager/MTN Test match against Sri Lanka starting on January 2.

The Western Province opener only officially learned of his recall at net practice on Monday morning, but he confirmed he had been phoned by South African selections convener Rushdi Magiet on Sunday to told to "prepare himself mentally" for the Test match.

"It was a bit of a surprise," said Gibbs. "I really thought I'd only be picked for the one-dayers. But I'm here now and I've got to make another opportunity work. Hopefully it's a new fresh start and a much more professional and better one."

Gibbs said that he would be a fool to say that he hadn't learned a lesson from his six-month ban for agreeing to underperform.

"I've had to bide my time although it seemed like it was taking forever," he said. "It was the biggest mistake I've made in my life and I can't see me, for one, or any other professional cricketers making it again."

South African captain Shaun Pollock said it was good to have Gibbs back in the Test side.

"Herschelle's a class player. He's got a proven record and he's performed well for us over the years," said Pollock. "It must have been a frustrating time for him and I'm sure he's just looking forward to getting back on the field and playing."

The matter of Gibbs contract with the United Cricket Board will be discussed at a UCB exco meeting on January 17. For the Newlands Test and any subsequent games he plays for South Africa before he is offered a new contract he will only be paid a match fee and any prize money he earns. In the meantime, however, Gibbs said: "I'm ready to rock and roll."

Gibbs has replaced Boeta Dippenaar in the only change to the South African team that drew the first Test at Kingsmead last week. He served a six-month ban from international cricket for making an arrangement with former South African captain Hansie Cronje to underperform in a one-day international in India last year. Gibbs, however, did not fulfill his part of the deal and made 73 off 54 balls.

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