Herschelle Gibbs has set his sights on a maiden Twenty20 hundred while with Yorkshire.

And the South African right- hander, who has been signed as the county’s Friends Provident Twenty20 specialist overseas player, admits he will have to change his game plan to achieve it.

The 36-year-old from Cape Town has a 98 under his belt in domestic cricket and a 90 not out for his country. But, ahead of Thursday’s opener against Derbyshire at Headingley, he has revealed he will not rest up until he goes one better.

“I would desperately love to get a hundred in this format. I’ve got a few 90s, but have never got to three figures,” said Gibbs, who has also played 20-over cricket for the Cape Cobras, Glamorgan and the Indian Premier League franchise Deccan Chargers among others.

“I made plenty of starts in the IPL, but was in two minds as to whether to push on or to try and bat time and build a partnership. Sometimes you’ve got to take the bull by the horns and keep the momentum going.

“Sometimes I’ve made that initial start, but lost momentum and failed to back myself to go through and get as many as I can.”

Despite making his 20-over debut in 2004, Gibbs says he has still not entirely got to grips with the shortest format of all.

He added: “It’s a game I’m still getting used to. The more you play it, the more you can think there’s different ways of playing it.

“But the guys who go on and get 80, 90, 100 off 40 balls are only thinking about one thing – clearing the ropes as often as they can.

“If I get momentum in the future, I’m going to go with it and back my instincts to go as hard as I can.”

Gibbs, who can be one of the most destructive batsmen in world cricket on his day, said he had not spoken to either director of cricket Martyn Moxon or captain Andrew Gale about whether he will open the batting or bat at number three.

“I’m equally happy opening or batting at three,” he said. “When you don’t open, your role can change from game to game. Sometimes you could come in early, sometimes later on. Other than the openers, nobody else has a set role.”

Gibbs is just one of a host of international stars who will grace the Twenty20 this summer.

“The influx of overseas players is going to add a little bit more competitiveness and improve the standard,” he said.