Gary Kirsten (born 23 November 1967 in Cape Town) is a former South African cricketer, and current coach of the Indian cricket team. He played 101 Test matches and 185 One-day internationals for South Africa between 1993 and 2004, mainly as an opening batsman. His half brother Peter, also played provincial cricket as a wicket-keeper for Western Province, and then later for the South African Cricket team which included the highlight of the Cricket World Cup in 1992. Kirsten made his Test debut against Australia in Melbourne in 1993. He retired from international cricket in 2004 after crafting a match-winning 76 in his final innings, against New Zealand. Over the years, he gained a reputation as being a sturdy batsman in both Test cricket and one-day cricket. He could up the tempo of an innings if he needed to, but more often than not he simply waited for the bad ball, much like Steve Waugh and Justin Langer. He was also a reliable fielder. Kirsten held the South African records for most runs and centuries in a Test career, before both were surpassed by Jacques Kallis. He was the first Test batsman to make hundreds against each of the other 9 Test nations. He made a score of 275 against England in 1999, which was another South African record until Graeme Smith made 277 against England in 2003. He still holds the record for highest innings by a South African in a one-day international; 188 not-out made against the United Arab Emirates during the 1996 World Cup, which is the fourth highest innings of all time in One-Day International cricket.Biography of gary kirsten
Gary Kirsten (born 23 November 1967 in Cape Town) is a former South African cricketer, and current coach of the Indian cricket team. He played 101 Test matches and 185 One-day internationals for South Africa between 1993 and 2004, mainly as an opening batsman. His half brother Peter, also played provincial cricket as a wicket-keeper for Western Province, and then later for the South African Cricket team which included the highlight of the Cricket World Cup in 1992. Kirsten made his Test debut against Australia in Melbourne in 1993. He retired from international cricket in 2004 after crafting a match-winning 76 in his final innings, against New Zealand. Over the years, he gained a reputation as being a sturdy batsman in both Test cricket and one-day cricket. He could up the tempo of an innings if he needed to, but more often than not he simply waited for the bad ball, much like Steve Waugh and Justin Langer. He was also a reliable fielder. Kirsten held the South African records for most runs and centuries in a Test career, before both were surpassed by Jacques Kallis. He was the first Test batsman to make hundreds against each of the other 9 Test nations. He made a score of 275 against England in 1999, which was another South African record until Graeme Smith made 277 against England in 2003. He still holds the record for highest innings by a South African in a one-day international; 188 not-out made against the United Arab Emirates during the 1996 World Cup, which is the fourth highest innings of all time in One-Day International cricket.
