After a successful stint with India, he became South African cricket team's head coach and led them to the No. 1 spot in Test cricket.
After leading them to the top of the Test rankings, Kirsten guided them to ODI World Cup title win in 2011.
The left-handed top-order batsman had a prolific run against England. In 22 Tests against them, he scored 1,608 runs including five centuries and seven fifties. Two of the five centuries were double-tons.
In the year 2000, he continued to show improvement. He finished the calendar year with 1,467 runs.
Kirsten played 101 Tests and 185 One-Day Internationals for South Africa. He scored a combined 7,289 runs.
For three straigth years (1994-1996), Kirsten was awarded with the South African Annual Cricketer of the Year
Kirsten made his international debut in 1993 and enjoyed a prolific run in the year 1996 when he scored 1442 runs including 391 runs at the world cup.
Gary Kirsten is celebrating his 53rd birthday today. The South Africa legend carved a successful professional career as a batsman before becoming a coach.
After retiring in 2003, Kirsten set up his own cricket academy. In 2007, he was appointed Indian cricket team's head coach.
Kirsten was the first South African to play 100 Tests and also the first from his country to record 20 Test centuries.