South Africa’s record Test run scorer Gary Kirsten is in line to replace Zimbabwean Murray Goodwin at county champions Sussex for the 2004/2005 season, it was revealed on Tuesday.
The 36-year-old record caps holder with 95 is one of Sussex’s top targets to replace Goodwin, who was instrumental in Sussex’s surprise championship win last term but is odds-on to leave after three outstanding seasons.
Sussex’s director of cricket, Peter Moores, admitted that Kirsten, scorer of 6 866 test runs, including 19 centuries, is in the list they are looking at to join Pakistan spinmaster Mushtaq Ahmed as their foreign duo.
”There are a few names in the hat — one of them is Gary Kirsten. He’s definitely our sort of cricketer,” said Moores, a former wicketkeeper for Sussex.
Should Sussex pursue their interest and fend off competition from Nottinghamshire, Kirsten will be their second major signing since the title triumph following the arrival of former Surrey and England batsman Ian Ward.
Kirsten has thought about retiring from Test cricket following a successful series against England in the summer, but opted to stay on, though he has decided to miss the opening Test against the West Indies this week as his wife is expecting their first child.
Perhaps Kirsten’s most notable innings in his stellar career was his 14-and-a-half-hour marathon 275 that saved his country from defeat against England in Durban four years ago — the second-longest innings in Test history. — Sapa-AFP