Gary Kirsten

Gary Kirsten

South Africa AllRounder

Personal Information

Date of Birth November 23, 1967
Nationality South Africa
Role Opening Batsman/Left-handed, Coach, Right arm off break Bowler
Past Team(s)
Family Paul Kirsten (Brother), Peter Kirsten (Half-brother), Deborah Kirsten (Spouse), Joanna Kirsten, James Kirsten, Joshua Kirsten (Children)

Gary Kirsten News

“Love the way he wants to keep growing and developing his game” - Gary Kirsten praises young Indian batter “Love the way he wants to keep growing and developing his game” - Gary Kirsten praises young Indian batter
“Love the way he wants to keep growing and developing his game” - Gary Kirsten praises young Indian batter
“Winning the World Cup is within India’s reach” - Former head coach Gary Kirsten “Winning the World Cup is within India’s reach” - Former head coach Gary Kirsten
“Winning the World Cup is within India’s reach” - Former head coach Gary Kirsten
"We find a way to win" - Gary Kirsten gives dressing room awards following GT's 6-wicket win over PBKS in IPL 2023 "We find a way to win" - Gary Kirsten gives dressing room awards following GT's 6-wicket win over PBKS in IPL 2023
"We find a way to win" - Gary Kirsten gives dressing room awards following GT's 6-wicket win over PBKS in IPL 2023
“Tendulkar was deeply unhappy at the time that I joined the team” - Gary Kirsten opens up on dark phase in Indian cricket in 2007 “Tendulkar was deeply unhappy at the time that I joined the team” - Gary Kirsten opens up on dark phase in Indian cricket in 2007
“Tendulkar was deeply unhappy at the time that I joined the team” - Gary Kirsten opens up on dark phase in Indian cricket in 2007
“MS and I formed the most unlikely partnership” - Gary Kirsten on his legendary association with Dhoni “MS and I formed the most unlikely partnership” - Gary Kirsten on his legendary association with Dhoni
“MS and I formed the most unlikely partnership” - Gary Kirsten on his legendary association with Dhoni

Gary Kirsten: A Brief Biography

Gary Kirsten Biography


Gary Kirsten is a former South African cricketer, born on 23 November 1967 in Cape Town, Cape Province, South Africa. He played for South Africa as an opening batsman between 1993 and 2004. He is a left-handed batsman and a right arm off break bowler.


Background


Kirsten had a successful amateur career as a teenager before making his professional debut as a 19-year old. He played professionally for Western Province from 1987-2004.


Debut


On 26 December 1993, Kirsten made his Test debut against Australia in Melbourne. He made ODI debut on 11 December 1993 in a match against New Zealand At Adelaide Oval.


With sturdy batting performance in his debut matches, he occupied the place of opening batsman in the team.


Low Points


Kirsten had his problem with incoming deliveries, something for which he slogged for hours at the nets to eradicate. The bowlers used his weak point to dismiss him but he gained control over it after some time.


Gary's Record in Numbers


Kirsten has played the second-longest innings in Test history and scored 275 runs for over 14 and a half hours against England.


He was the first Test batsman to make hundreds against each of the other nine Test nations. Gary has 21 Test hundreds to his name, which was the most until Jacques Kallis, Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers went past him.


Retirement


Gary retired from international cricket in 2004. He was appointed the coach of the Indian cricket team in March 2008, and continued with the team till their victorious campaign at the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.


On 5 June 2011, Kirsten was appointed the full-time coach of the South Africa national cricket team for a term period of two years. Kirsten was appointed the coach of the Hobart Hurricanes cricket team in April 2017.