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Gary Kirsten South Africa (SA)
Batting style	Left-handed batsman (LHB)
Bowling type	Right-arm Offbreak (OB)
	Tests	ODIs
Matches	101	185
Runs scored	7289	6798
Batting average	45.27	40.95
100s/50s	21/34	13/45
Top score	275	188*
Overs bowled	58.1	5
Wickets	2	0
Bowling average	71.00	-
5 wickets in innings	0	0
10 wickets in match	0	n/a
Best bowling	1/0	-
Catches/stumpings	83/0	61/1
As of 8 November 2005 Source: Cricinfo.com

Gary Kirsten (born 23 November 1967 in Cape Town) was a South African cricketer, and opening batsman. He played 101 Test matches for his country. His half-brother Peter, also played cricket for SA and was a member of the South African World Cup team in 1992. His brother, Paul played provincial cricket as wicketkeeper for Western Province. He made his debut against Australia in Melbourne in 1993. He departed 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.

Perhaps it was the hairstyle, but Gary Kirsten always seemed a little older than he was. Then again, it might just be that he became so established at the top of the batting order that it was almost impossible to think how South Africa would cope without him. It's probably fair to say that Kirsten was never blessed with the flair and the almost pure technique of his half-brother Peter. But when it comes to determination, the ability to concentrate for long periods and a burning desire to score runs, there was little to choose between them.

A left-hander with a relatively unique technique, Kirsten simply worked out his strengths and weaknesses and based his game around them. In this respect he was probably the most organised batsman to play for South Africa since their readmission. Calm and level-headed, he brought a healthy degree of common sense to the art of batting, which possibly explains why off the field and in the dressing room the dafter side of his personality came out.

Periodically, Kirsten endured patches when he persistently got out in similar fashion - chopping the ball on to his stumps, for instance, or getting himself caught down the leg side. Each time this happened, though, Kirsten worked through the problem, made the adjustments and played himself back into form. He enjoyed particular success on the sub-continent - where other players have floundered against the turning ball. Kirsten, though, was drawn on patience and soft hands to see him through.

Kirsten held the South African records for most runs and centuries in a Test career, before both were surpassed by Jacques Kallis. 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 in 1996, which is the fourth highest innings of all time in One Day International cricket.

Gary Kirsten's career performance graph.

	South Africa squad - 2003 Cricket World Cup
1 Pollock | 2 Boucher | 3 Boje | 4 Dippenaar | 5 Donald | 6 Gibbs | 7 Hall | 8 Kallis | 9 Kirsten | 10 Klusener | 11 Langeveldt | 12 Ntini | 13 Peterson | 14 Rhodes | 15 Zondeki