Sporting icons: Gary Kirsten: The Stubborn Protea Opening batter - Career HLs , video


 

Gary Kirsten (born 23 November 1967, Cape Town, South Africa) is one of South Africa’s finest opening batsmen and later one of the most successful international coaches of the modern era. A technically solid left-hander, known for patience, temperament and immense concentration, Kirsten anchored South Africa’s batting throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.

He made his international debut soon after South Africa’s re-entry into world cricket post-apartheid and quickly became a cornerstone of their top order.

Style of Play

Batting

  • Left-handed opening batsman
  • Compact technique, great patience
  • Strong off-side play, especially square cut and cover drive
  • Excellent at grinding long innings (triple-century scorer)
  • Master of pacing innings in both Tests and ODIs
  • Mentally tough, extremely consistent

Bowling

  • Very occasional right-arm off-breaks
  • Not a regular bowler; played no bowling role at international level

Fielding

  • Reliable slip fielder
  • Calm, safe hands
  • Good anticipation and steady ground fielding

International Career Highlights (In Detail)

Test Career

  • Matches: 101
  • Runs: 7,289
  • Average: 45.27
  • Centuries: 21
  • Highest: 275 (vs England, Durban 1999)
  • One of the most reliable openers in world cricket during his era
  • Formed strong partnerships with Herschelle Gibbs and Andrew Hudson
  • Known for building innings brick-by-brick and blunting quality pace attacks

Major Test Achievements:

  • First South African to play 100 Tests
  • Scored a match-saving 275 in 14.5 hours—one of the longest innings in Test history
  • Key part of historic series wins in India (2000), Pakistan, West Indies, and England


ODI Career

  • Matches: 185
  • Runs: 6,798
  • Average: 40.95
  • Centuries: 13
  • Strike rate: ~72 (excellent for his era)
  • Highest score: 188 vs UAE (1996)* – once the highest individual ODI score in World Cup history

ODI Highlights:

  • Man of the Match multiple times in ICC tournaments
  • Famous for his tactical, risk-balanced innings
  • Vital part of South Africa’s rise as a leading ODI side in the late 90s

First-Class Career

  • Matches: 221
  • Runs: 16670
  • Average:  48.31
  • Centuries: 46

He was an absolute run-machine for Western Province and domestic teams, known for long, grinding batting displays.

Captaincy Record

Kirsten captained South Africa briefly, though he was never a full-time long-term captain.

  • Tests as captain: 2

    • Won: 1
    • Lost: 1

  • ODIs as captain: 12

    • Won: 6
    • Lost: 6

He was respected more as a senior pro and later as one of the world’s greatest coaches.

Best Batting Performances (In Detail)

275 vs England, Durban (1999–2000)

  • His career-defining innings
  • Lasted 878 minutes at the crease
  • One of the longest Test innings in history
  • Saved the match for South Africa
  • A masterclass in patience, concentration and mental endurance

188 vs UAE, Faisalabad (1996 World Cup)*

  • The highest score ever in a World Cup at the time
  • Remains one of the best ODI innings by a South African
  • Perfect blend of rotation and acceleration

153 vs England, Headingley (1998)

  • Scored against high-quality swing bowling
  • Set up a crucial overseas victory
  • Built partnerships under pressure

117 vs India, Mumbai (2000)

  • Brilliant innings in tough subcontinental conditions
  • Helped South Africa win a rare away series in India

103 vs Australia, Melbourne (1997)

  • Against McGrath, Warne and Gillespie
  • One of his bravest knocks
  • Set up a historic Test win at the MCG


Legacy

As a Player

  • One of South Africa’s greatest openers
  • A pillar of stability in the post-isolation era
  • Among the most respected, disciplined, technically perfect batters of his generation
  • First South African to 100 Tests

As a Coach – A Global Legend

After retiring, Kirsten achieved extraordinary success as a coach:

1. India (2008–2011)

  • Guided India to No. 1 in Test rankings
  • Won the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, India’s first in 28 years
  • Revered by Indian players for calmness, man-management, and tactical simplicity

2. South Africa (2011–2013)

  • Led South Africa to No. 1 Test ranking
  • Oversaw one of South Africa’s strongest modern teams (Amla, Steyn, Morkel, AB de Villiers, Kallis)

3. Franchise & T20 Coaching

  • Key figure in global franchise cricket
  • Mentored the Gujarat Titans, RCB, and others

4. A Master of People Management

Kirsten is regarded as one of the finest mentors modern cricket has seen—patient, thoughtful, humble, and inspiring.

5. Contribution to World Cricket

  • Shaped the careers of Kohli, Dhoni, Amla, AB de Villiers
  • Developed world-class team cultures in both India and South Africa

Overall, Gary Kirsten’s legacy is twofold:

  1. An elite opening batsman who exemplified grit and consistency
  2. One of the greatest coaches international cricket has ever seen


In the below video watch Gary Kirsten's magnificent 210 vs England in 1998 Test 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Desserts: Ssiat Hotteok - How to prepare this Korean pancake

Image
Ssiat Hotteok  is a variation of Hotteok , a popular Korean stuffed pancake. While traditional Hotteok is filled with brown sugar, cinnamon, and peanuts, Ssiat Hotteok is unique to Busan , where it includes a crunchy filling of various seeds (most commonly sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, and more) in addition to the sweet syrup. Hot, chewy on the outside and oozing with a nutty, sugary crunch on the inside, Ssiat Hotteok is especially popular in colder months and a must-try for food lovers visiting Korea. Ingredients For the Dough: 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup glutinous rice flour (for chewiness) 1 tbsp sugar 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp instant dry yeast 3/4 cup warm water (more as needed) 2 tbsp milk (optional, for richer dough) 1 tbsp vegetable oil (plus more for frying) For the Filling: 1/3 cup brown sugar 1 tsp cinnamon powder 1/4 cup chopped peanuts or walnuts (optional) For the Seed Mix: 1/4 cup sunflower seeds (hulled) 2 tbsp pumpkin seeds ...
Read more

Indian astronomer created stunning video capturing earth's rotation from Ladakh

Image
Indian astronomer Dorje Angchuk has created a mesmerizing time-lapse video capturing Earth's rotation from the breathtaking landscapes of Ladakh. As the engineer-in-charge at the Indian Astronomical Observatory in Hanle, Angchuk aspired to produce a complete 24-hour time-lapse showcasing the seamless transition between day and night. Although we do not perceive the Earth's movement in our daily lives, our planet is in constant motion—both spinning on its axis and orbiting the Sun. In his video, Earth’s rotation becomes evident while the Milky Way appears motionless in the background. Reflecting on the project, Angchuk remarked, “The stars remain still, but Earth never stops spinning,” underscoring the technical challenges he faced while bringing his vision to life. His initial goal was to capture the Orion constellation; however, its high placement in the sky, given Ladakh’s latitude, presented difficulties. The region’s extreme cold also posed significant obstacles, rapidl...
Read more

Top Five Thrilling Matches in ICC Champions Trophy History

Image
  The ICC Champions Trophy, which began in 1998, has often been referred to as the "Mini ODI World Cup." Over the years, this tournament has produced some unforgettable cricketing moments. Here’s a look at five of the most thrilling encounters in Champions Trophy history. 1. India vs South Africa (Semi-final, 2002) While Virender Sehwag was known for his explosive batting, it was his off-spin that turned the game in this semi-final against South Africa. India, batting first, posted 261/9, thanks to Sehwag’s 59 and Yuvraj Singh’s 62. In response, South Africa looked set for victory as Herschelle Gibbs (116) and Jacques Kallis (97) built a strong foundation. However, Gibbs' retirement due to injury triggered a collapse. Sehwag’s crucial wickets, including those of Kallis, Mark Boucher, and Lance Klusener, swung the game in India’s favor. From a commanding position at 191/1, South Africa fell short at 251/6, handing India a 10-run win. The final against Sri Lanka was unfo...
Read more