Kallis 'not good enough'

2008-06-15 13:47

Cape Town - South African Test cricketers Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince and Mark Boucher are "not good enough" to make their provincial franchise team, the Cape Cobras, according to coach Shukri Conrad.

Conrad made the surprising claim in the Afrikaans Sunday newspaper Sondag, after the trio left the Cobras this week and joined the Warriors amid rumours of much unhappiness.

The trio apparently were upset at being left out of the Cobras side for the recent Pro20 semi-finals, and this led to further disagreements with Conrad, prompting the move.

Conrad however, believes none of the three would be good enough to make the franchise, and says "I'm losing no sleep over my decision." Kallis played only once in the franchise's last 78 games and Boucher has never played for the franchise in the three years he has been a contracted player. The players were upset after they were rated among the world's best and chosen to be part of the Indian Premier League, the paper claims.

"I could never choose Kallis ahead of Graeme Smith or Andrew Puttick at the Cobras, because Puttick was one of our best players in the Pro20 in recent times," he told Sondag.

"I could also not choose Kallis ahead of Herschelle Gibbs at number three.

JP Duminy has been chosen at number four ahead of Kallis at national level.

At number five I would never choose him ahead of Henry Davids. If that is the situation with Kallis, then the same counts for Ashwell.

"I'm not losing sleep over the matter. Kallis and Boucher have never in the past had an inclination to play for us anyway. Why do you want to leave the franchise because you were not included in one game anyway? And that after you never played for us in the past. Jacques played for us once in the last 78 matches and Boucher has never even been at one of our practices."

Kallis's agent Dave Rundle told Sondag the trio were "disappointed at the way they were handled by the Cobras".

South African Cricket Players Association chief Tony Irish added that the players were willing to return from India for the game "even if they had to lose money in the process."

The players themselves declined to comment on the matter.

- SAPA