You got to work and got to improve even at 34: Kirsten
Ashish Shukla - 27 October 2001
Gary Kirsten, with 373 runs from five innings at a staggering average of
over 100, was the obvious man-of-the-series in the Standard Bank
triangular series which ended here at Kingsmead, Durban, on Friday, with
a six-wicket win for the hosts over India.
The left-handed opener, who completed 6,000 runs during this series, has
added to his repertoire of shots and is equally at ease both against
medium-pacers and spinners. A very modest man, Kirsten said he was happy
with his form in this one-day series as also in the preceding Test and
one-day series against Zimbabwe. He looms as a big threat for the
Indians in the upcoming three-Test series which starts at Bloemfontein
on November 3.
Excerpts from an interview:
Q: You seem to be in a particularly rich vein of form career in this
phase of your cricketing career?
A: I have had phases when I have done well and other phases when I have
done badly. In the last couple of years though I have said to everyone
that I want to be as consistent as possible and win as many matches as I
can even if I am not scoring too many runs. Hopefully, this run would
continue throughout the season.
Q: It seems that you have become more aggressive and are playing more
lofted shots now than you ever did before?
A: I think a lot of good young players are coming through the ranks in
South Africa and so as an older player I have to continue improving.
Shaun (Pollock) had said at the start that we better set our own
standards. I think I have picked up a few good things that have helped
me. I am practicing new things more than I used to in the past. You got
to work and got to improve, even at 34. You keep on improving and that's
what I intend to do
Q: Your association with Herschelle Gibbs... in this series was a very
important factor in South Africa's overall performance in this series
A: Herschelle is a fantastic player. He is very aggressive and he can
get on with things but I think we have worked very well together. When
we are playing, we are confident, we complement each other, Some days, I
get off to a flier and on other days, he does. Playing together with
aggression helps as also the right-left combination which messes up the
bowler's line a bit. I think when two guys are playing with confidence
you are likely to get a good start. You just got to stay humble about it
and work hard and hopefully we can continue
Q: What are your impressions of the Indian spinners, Anil Kumble and
Harbhajan Singh?
A: They are world-class spinners and they have proved that. They are
never going to be easy to play. It would though be a bit easier to play
them here because the ball skids on a bit here than it does in India.
But you always got to treat them with respect.
Q: A few words about Harbhajan in particular?
A: I faced him for the first time tonight and I think he is a fantastic
bowler. He proved early this year against Australia what he is capable
of doing. We got to treat him with respect throughout the series.
Q: You have played Javagal Srinath before. Does he look any different to
you now? Is he no longer the same bowler?
A: Srinath has a lot of experience behind him. He can pitch the ball in
the right area. I don't think he has changed one bit.
Q: And about Ajit Agarkar?
A: He has bowled reasonably well in the one-day series and he mixes his
deliveries well.
Q: Any comments on the wicket?
A: It was a fantastic wicket I think our bowlers did the job up front.
They bowled really well today and with good pace. That really did the
trick for us.
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