Favourite cricketers 7 - Peter Kirsten

If there were two better players to steer Derbyshire to on-day glory than John Wright and Peter Kirsten, I don't know who they were.

Peter Kirsten came to Derbyshire on the recommendation of Eddie Barlow, and played in what must have been the strongest-ever second eleven fielded by the County. That same summer he was joined by Allan Lamb and Garth Le Roux in the Derbyshire twos. Derbyshire had to choose one to replace Eddie Barlow and plumped for Kirsten.

And why not? He had averaged over 90 for them, and had scored a hatful for (I think) Worksop in the Bassetlaw League. Of course, had anyone at the club done their homework, we could have had Lamb and Kirsten - the former on his English background. Le Roux went on to form a hostile pace attack with Imran Khan for Sussex, but Kirsten was an excellent choice.

At his best, batting was made to look the easiest thing in the world. He played straight and in the arc when he first came in which helped, but you never had the impression he was doing anything spectacular, unlike his earlier compatriot Chris Wilkins. Then you'd look up at the scoreboard and see he was on 30-odd and wonder how he'd got there. Once established, he produced an astonishing range of strokes. I was fortunate to see his innings against Glamorgan at Chesterfield when he scored a double century so good it was euphoric. Few of us recalled a Derbyshire player in that league (I certainly didn't) and he would go down the pitch to play a shot then change his mind and play something outrageous instead. His footwork was superb, his timing a thing of wonder and his range of shots equal to anyone I've seen.

He was a fair bowler too, little off spinners that were good enough to produce two five-wicket hauls and take one day wickets regularly. As a fielder he was up with the very best, certainly until knee problems slowed him down.

Everyone was thrilled when he eventually got the chance to play Test cricket, although at 37 his best days were behind him. There were more cheers in Derbyshire for South Africa than England when he made his only Test century at Headingley in 1994.

Kirsten was one of a number of outstanding South Africans who lost their best years to apartheid. He, Jimmy Cook, Ken McEwan and the great Barry Richards would have graced the highest stage of all. It was a pleasure and privilege to watch him grace the square at Chesterfield and Derby.