Top 5 South Africa - Australia player battles

#4 Glenn McGrath and Gary Kirsten

Glenn McGrath has had an edge over Gary Kirsten

There was a time when South Africa were one down against Australia even before they started their innings. This was courtesy McGrath, who seemingly had a black magic spell over the South African opener, Gary Kirsten. He has had Kirsten eight times in Test matches and another seven in one-day internationals.

"There was a look in his eye that told me he was expecting it," said McGrath recently, years after both players had retired. "It wasn't fear – just a look that told me he didn't have an answer, that we'd been here before and he knew how it was going to turn out."

Kirsten believes he had a psychological problem against the Aussie spearhead. To prepare for McGrath, he would go through the same rigorous net routine each time. He later mentioned that he would probably have been better off taking a break from the nets.

Despite his woes against McGrath, Kirsten has had a good time against the Aussies in general, scoring his first ODI hundred against them in 1994.