How Kirsten saved a career and South Africa's record

Durban - No one could really blame Geoff Boycott for taking what seemed to be an apoplectic bite out of the lip of the porcelain teacup he had been holding moments earlier. But there was Gary Kirsten at Kingsmead knocking off one of his near records.

Well, that is the way it came across as Kirsten became the man to occupy the crease longer than any other South African in a Test: all in a good cause, though. In time it should also become recognised as the last great Test innings of the 20th century.

Few could have managed to stage so successfully such a production of well structured, if timeless, batting; for sheer theatre Kirsten and Mark Boucher lived up to their reputations. Their record-breaking rescue act was stylish with many gilt-edged touches, each batsman leaving their personal calling card: the stoic calm of Kirsten rubbing shoulders with the developing flair of Boucher s often intrepid strokeplay. If Kirsten s technique includes certain stubbornness it is because he acknowledges his side is in trouble and needs his protection. In this case surrender is far from cheap.

On scale of ten to one, this must rank about nine while the Old Trafford performance of last year would come in around seven. In either case both matches were drawn. Yet anyone scoring 275 in an innings deserves some recognition: no doubt Mr Durability or Mr Reliability are two apt sobriquets which do spell out the word endurance. Kirsten can be that sort of batsman: heroic yet focused, digging deep into energy reserves and finally emerging from the trenches sharing more than a couple of records.

Mr Modesty is another for a reluctant hero; a touch shy talking about his achievements.

Two double hundreds in a Test career falls to few: Kirsten is only the second from South Africa, the other being Dudley Nourse, and his were 15 years apart. Granted there were fewer Tests then, fewer tours as well; South Africa only played against England, Australia and New Zealand. Now they have the happy luxury of the other eight Test playing-nations. Nourse two are divided between Australia in 1935/36 and England in 1951.

Kirsten are 18 months apart, both against England: at Old Trafford and Kingsmead. Boycott managed only one double century in his career and was dropped for exercise against India at Leeds in 1967 because it was scored too slowly. Now Kirsten has the second longest innings on record of 878 minutes and is selected for the next Test, at Newlands in Cape Town. What more, Kirsten shared man of the match award with Andy Caddick. At Manchester it was 10 hours and 50 minutes, at Kingsmead it was 14 hours and 38 minutes. It says a lot why a lengthy innings is often called a mind game.

Hansie Cronje, facing the bank of tape recorders, microphones, cameramen and near-blinded by TV lights, blinked with a touch of embarrassment and started how his puny innings of one off seven balls faced in six minutes was "a touch embarrassing".

Well, he got that one right.

Then he talked briefly about the Kirsten effort. "We had about a five minute chat before we went out to bat the second time because it was new territory for us, the follow on, and we needed to show guts and determination and I think Gary effort summed it up ... it was a fantastic effort by him, a truly great effort..."

Cronje was asked about Boucher duty as a night watchman. A century in Harare, now a second one in the same role, a record at Test level for the Border man. "We take pride in having those who can bat all the way down the order and Mark enjoys the challenges of going up (the order) a little and spending time at the crease. Down at nine he does not always get that opportunity ..."

And what about the follow on, Hansie? Was it a shock? This being the first one ... "No. Not really a shock. You start preparing yourself ... At twenty-four for three, fifty-seven for four and suddenly eighty-four for eight ... you think about batting again ...I thought it was a great challenge for us to come through second time around," he admitted. "I have inherited a team of great characters and people with determination ... You don t have to say too much to them. We knew we could bat through, it was just a case of doing it."

"Also, England having been in the field for two days obviously contributed a little (to our recovery). They were very tired."

Okay, Hansie, what about Gary record bid? "Well, when you look around the world today at the number of top opening bowlers there are and the way they (opening batsmen) have to fight against the new ball, sometimes with green surfaces up front, they deserve every run and every record they can get."

"When you consider that we had to follow on and then somebody can come up with that record ... well, it is just awesome. He had to get through three new balls; some very fine spells of bowling from Andy Caddick and not easy with Phil Tufnell bowling out of the rough."

"So I thought, overall, an unbelievable effort by Gary. Not only will it lift the team but it will give everyone a lot of confidence."

Tough about the record though. From the dressing room Kirsten team-mates did not get a good view of the delivery from Mark Butcher which helped him achieve career best figures. The England opening batsmen and occasional light relief on a hot afternoon, tossed up a flighted leg-stump half volley which the left-hander Kirsten at first tried to glide past Alec Stewart, missed and the rest is history. What a delivery to bowl. It was meant to give Kirsten the record.

Butcher look of incredulity was caught by the TV cameraman; he was as bemused by the incident as was Kirsten. Cullinan, who had barely nine months before broke Graeme Pollock 29-year-old record was probably more shocked than anyone. Disappointed, too, from Cronje comments of the incident. "In one sense you are very disappointed for Gary, because he had worked so hard for it ... and deserved it. On the other hand you feel pleased there are now two players in the side who have that record. I know that they are great mates ... And yes, Daryll was disappointed for Gary that he had not broken the record."

When Kirsten, at last, talked about that gentle Butcher delivery, there was a sheepish grin. "If I had the chance again I d probably play the same shot." It was the sort of comment that made so casually it was almost missed by all but those who were closest to the now joint record-holder."

"It is nice to do well and exciting to break records. It is nice to have done that ... but so what? There is more to it than that," which is the sort of retiring comment you would expect. "It was nice to be involved in the recovery and hopefully the spirit can carry us through to the next game," he said.

How different it was at the start of the second innings when he agreed there had been "some pressure" yet he felt more relaxed in his mind when going out to bat a second time, knowing all along it was "make or break for me" before he reached what was his 10th Test century - a record for South African batsmen. "I had not been getting any big runs lately, so ... yes, I had been feeling the pressure. I felt fairly comfortable and I decided to play and see what happened and then my confidence started growing ... I started moving well ... ducking well (from the bouncers) ..." And that was Kirsten part of the after match show: short on words, big on runs.

What was not revealed though is that at one stage Cronje considered a declaration at tea on the last day to give the bowlers a light middle net. A message was sent out to Kirsten with the 12th man Dale Benkenstein giving him the option of breaking Cullinan record, which he accepted.

Through it all he batted through three century partnerships: 152 with Jacques Kallis for the crucial second wicket which did so much to reduce the possibility of defeat by an innings; the record 192 with Boucher for the record fifth wicket, equally important in that it took Cronje side past the psychological point of defeat, and the 101 runs with Lance Klusener for the sixth wicket.

For those who must have them, the list of records at Kingsmead for the third Test are:

There were a few other minor details which can hardly be called records, so suggesting he had set a record when passing the 210 scored against England at Old Trafford 18 months before is stating the obvious; his highest first-class score of 244 against Border is also a minor matter.