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Kallis: A man on a mission
23/07/2008 22:01 - (SA)
Die Burger
Altus Momberg
Worcester, England - Jacques Kallis could make the bowlers in the Bangladesh A team, and then the England attack, pay for his lack of success during the early part of the South African cricket team's tour.
The veteran all-rounder is the only SA top-order batsman who has not made much of a contribution on this tour. He will be eager to break the drought during the next ten days.
Kallis went for a voluntary training session for the second day in succession on Wednesday. He has been working hard on his technique, determined to eliminate any hitches before the third Test against England starts in Birmingham on Wednesday.
The match against Bangladesh A, which starts here on Friday, provides him with an opportunity to get back into the run-scoring business.
Kallis made a top score of 13 in the first two Tests. Every other top-6 batsman in the Proteas team has made at least one century.
But Kallis is not unduly worried. "It's rather difficult to get used to conditions here. If you can spend some time at the crease, you can make runs. I've just not managed to do so.
"It's a matter of getting to 20, or to face 50 balls; then everything should be hunky-dory," he said on Wednesday.
Struggled with his balance
Kallis began the season with three centuries and a 50 in Pakistan, followed by big hundreds in successive Tests against New Zealand.
But in his past 15 innings, he scored only one ton.
He has always been one of the technically most correct batsmen in the game but he appeared to struggle with his balance lately.
Against the West Indies early this year, he also tended to move towards his off-stump before the ball had been bowled.
Kallis also battled during the Twenty20 matches in the Indian Premier League and he may have picked up some bad habits there.
But Proteas coach Mickey Arthur is equally unconcerned. "One always knows Jacques won't struggle for too long. This is a plus for us, we're 1-0 up in the Test series and our best batsman has not even done his thing.
"We know Jacques will be back to his best in at least one of the two remaining Tests," Arthur said.
A probable team against Bangladesh: Graeme Smith (capt), JP Duminy, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Mark Boucher, Robin Pietersen, Paul Harris, André Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Monde Zondeki.
- Die Burger
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