SOUTH AFRICAN BATTING STAR Herschelle Gibbs, less than two months after appearing in the ICC Champions Trophy, is yet another cricketing great set to light up the Cricket Legends of Barbados International (CLOBI) Cup Masters Twenty20 tournament at Kensington Oval beginning later this month.

Gibbs, who turned 35 in February, has scored 21 centuries in 245 One-Day Internationals, the last of which was against England at Centurion in late September. The stroke-making right-hander and one of the best fielders of this era, also appeared in this summer's ICC Twenty20 World Championships in England.

Legendary South African left-hander Graeme Pollock is another late boost for the inaugural tournament, coming along as manager of the South African team.

Another celebrity who will feature is top tennis player Serena Williams, who will toss the coin with Sir Garfield Sobers for the opening match on November 27.

Director of CLOBI, Joel Garner, made the announcements yesterday at a Press conference at the event's headquarters in Fontabelle.

Garner, recently appointed as West Indies manager for the Test tour of Australia, said he would be disappointed to miss "all that fun and banter in the dressing room" but announced that fellow Barbadian Adrian Griffith would replace him as player/manager of the star-studded West Indies line-up, that includes five former skippers in Sir Viv Richards, Courtney Walsh, Jimmy Adams, Carl Hooper and Gordon Greenidge.

Gibbs lifts an already formidable South Africa squad that boasts key all-rounders Lance Klusener and Nicky Boje.

England are captained by the effervescent Darren Gough, who along with Dominic Cork, Mark Ramprakash and Paul Nixon, were consistent performers in the English county championship earlier this year. There are also five West Indian-Brits - Gladstone Small, Devon Malcolm, Phil DeFreitas, Dean Headley and Mark Alleyne - in their squad.

Sri Lanka will be led by Marvan Atapattu, the stylish right-hander with the experience of 90 Tests and 268 One-Day Internationals, and also have World Cup-winning skipper Arjuna Ranatunga in their team.

Director of CLOBI, Wes Hall, stressed that the CLOBI Cup was "all about partnerships" and praised main sponsors Virgin Atlantic, Simpson Motors and Digicel as well as the secondary partners, Sagicor, Banks, KFC, Medford Mahogany Creations and Go Click Technologies.

Virgin is bringing the England squad across the Atlantic free of cost, while one lucky spectator will drive away with a new car from Simpson Motors on finals night. Digicel is also providing a number of giveaways during the seven nights.

Hall also hailed the efforts of the Barbados Tourism Authority, Barbados Cricket Association, Kensington Oval Management Inc., National Sports Council and the Ministry of Tourism in helping to facilitate the substantial project.

The tournament was initially to have also featured a Sagicor Champion of Champions tournament featuring local clubs but this has been postponed. (CC)