OK, works but makes the code difficult to read if you see: MyTabStrib.SelectedIndex = 4; Also if there will be changes in the future (new tab or hiding/showing tabs dynamically) the resulting code will be difficult to maintain.

MyTabs.ShowTab("HistoryTab");

e.g. (pseudo-code from Refelctor)

public bool ShowTab(string tabID)
{
  int tabCount = 0;

  for (int i = 0; i < this.get_Items().Count; i++)
  {
    if (this.get_Items().get_Item(i).GetType() == typeof(Tab))
      tabCount++;

    if (this.get_Items().get_Item(i).get_ID() == tabID)
    {
      base.set_SelectedIndex(tabCount - 1);
      return true;
    }
  }

  return false;
}