Controversial South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs is ready to join up with the Proteas in Australia after being released from a Hout Bay rehabilitation centre, where he had spent the last month.

Gibbs took part in the rehabilitation programme at the request of Cricket South Africa (CSA) after repeated alcohol-related incidents.

The 34-year-old opener will leave for Australia later this week and, with the injury-enforced absence of captain Graeme Smith, is sure to be a key part of the ODI team during the rest of the tour Down Under.

According to his father Herman, Herschelle's time in Hout Bay was "very beneficial and insightful".

"I was a little scared that it would perhaps cause a personality change, but he was as cheeky as always when he came out," Gibbs snr. explained.

During the R72 000 month-long programme, Gibbs had little time watch TV or read newspapers, but still caught wind of the Proteas' historic victory in Australia.

Participants in the programme were required to rise early in the morning and do a significant amount of hiking.

Gibbs snr. added that Herschelle spent most of his time since returning home in the gym, preparing for duty in Australia.

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