You got to work and got to improve even at 34: Kirsten

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.