#8 Gary Kristen
Gary Kristen was one of the finest openers to have graced the game. The South African batting ace was a consistent run accumulator for the Proteas all through the 90s. Kristen had a compact technique and sound temperament to build an innings and provide the stability to their batting.
The former Indian coach often played second fiddle to his more flashy partners like Herschelle Gibbs and Andrew Hudson. Gary was a workhorse in the true sense and was South Africa’s batting mainstay along with Jacques Kallis under Hansie Cronje captaincy.
Gary Kristen Record as an Opener
Matches: 185; Runs: 6798; Avg: 40.71; 100s: 13