Overview

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. Against the same country he had made history by becoming the first ever Protea to play in 100 Test matches.

As an international cricketer, Gary Kirsten was known by his peers as a man on whom the team could depend in times of crisis. His ability as an opening batsmen that could withstand enormous pressure from the fastest bowlers in the world to the guile and cunning of the most crafted spinners was legendary. In playing 101 Tests and 185 ODI’s for South Africa, and the fact that he was able to score a century against every Test playing nation bears testimony to his ability to adapt to all conditions and to understand the dynamics of every bowling attack.

His greatest achievement with the bat will always be the record-equalling score of 275 against England, an innings that lasted over 14 hours and 30 minutes and epitomised his complete self-discipline.

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 sixth highest innings of all time in One-Day International cricket, and the highest score in World Cup cricket history.