Peter and Gary Kirsten have already made their mark in the current test series … but they’re amazed they’re even there
CRICKET: Paul Martin
ON the Knysna lagoon a year-or-so ago, a rubber dinghy floated idly along. “We had a few Castles in the boat, and we didn’t even notice the fishes on the hook,” recounts Peter Kirsten.
“Gary and I were talking about playing together for South Africa. In truth, though, we were both nowhere. Yet we still had that deep self- belief … and it happened.”
It has indeed happened for the Kirsten half-brothers. Not only have they both played away and at home against the Australians, they have each made crucial impacts on the first two tests in England.
Peter’s 105, his maiden test century, was the magnificent mainstay of the South African first innings fight-back at Headingley, while Gary’s 65 off 128 balls on Monday ensured the draw.
“Saturday was the highlight of my career,” states Peter without hesitation, a fact to which his tears and his late-into-the-evening celebrations on Saturday bore testimony. “But the highlight of my life was the birth of my only child, Leilah. She’s eight.”
In contrast Gary smilingly describes himself as “very much unmarried”, though he has a “serious girlfriend” back home.
Behind that jocularity, their mutual jibing and jousting, the affection between the two half-brothers shines through. “We come from a close-knit family, basically very close deep down,” explains Peter. “I was 13 when he was born, and it wasn’t difficult to be affectionate towards a toddler.”
The age difference led to Gary, despite going on to captain South African schools, worshipping Peter’s achievements. “His success pushed me on. I always maintained I could never hope to be as good as him. And it’s still the case: I’ll never reach his standard.”
Except in tennis: in the racket game, “Gazza (a nickname borrowed from the controversial England soccer player Paul Gascoigne) and I used to play tennis together very competitively. He used to beat me and that burned my arse. It still does,” says Peter.
Peter has never beaten Gary, “and he never will”, Gary informs. “There was a possibility I’d have gone full-time into tennis, but my Dad made me choose, and I chose cricket, to emulate Peter.”
Their sporting pedigree included father Noel who played cricket, and established a wicket-keepers’ catching record, for Border, where Peter spent his junior school years. Gary’s full brother Paul has also played for Border, as a wicket-keeper, while Peter’s full brother was “the best rugby player of the lot”, says Peter.
That’s quite an accolade, as Peter so nearly chose rugby rather than cricket when he was flyhalf for Stellenbosch, South African Universities, and Western Province. His pint size and his injuries made the decision to quit easier.
More difficult was his decision to leave Western Province cricket after 17 seasons and go to Border. Of the international pressures and back-stabbing that led to this step, Peter would rather not comment … he has answered them, indeed, with his bat.
“It was quite a dilemma,” is all he’ll say, “especially after my first full season batting with Gary. We’re so proud of our record second-wicket stand of 254, I think, for the second wicket, and in a Currie cup final too.
“I still hate playing against Western Province, as it’s still the greatest province in the country. I feel a tug of divided loyalties.”
There is more to Peter than cricket. His liberal views nearly led to a pull-out from matches against the rebel Gatting side. “I had several lunches with ANC people, and I was deeply unhappy with the tour. But I am a professional cricketer and I felt I had to play. But I was delighted and very relieved when the tour was aborted half-way through.”
Both men list their father as their greatest influence, and his sudden death in 1986 after a three-month struggle with cancer came, in Gary’s words, as “a very big blow”.
He had been alive to glory in Peter’s marvellous performances for Derbyshire and Western Province, but a return to the test arena was hardly contemplated in 1986.
“It makes me sad today that he has missed out on all of this happening to his sons now,” says Peter. “He was always very proud of us, and he loved us so much.
“I believe in the hand of fate, and I know that it was the workings of our late father that got me to Australia.”
Despite the “terrible time” he endured and the emotions welling within him as his name was originally not included in the touring party last year, Peter kept his devastating disappointment to himself when he telephoned his brother to congratulate him.
“He just wished me good luck and all the best. Nothing about his feelings. I’d have done the same if it had been the other way round.”