Cricket: Kallis' magical form with the bat tinged with sadness

By RICHARD BOOCK

You get the feeling that whenever Jacques Kallis walks out to bat these days his father is beside him.

The cornerstone of the South African batting line-up, Kallis' extraordinary run-scoring exploits have galvanised cricket fans over the past eight months as century after dashing century has poured from his blade.

The record-breaking deeds began on South Africa's tour of England last winter, when the right-hander rushed home to be with his ailing father, who eventually died in late July, not long after the death of an uncle.

Kallis, who changed the number on his one-day shirt to 65 during the series in England - at that stage the age of his terminally ill dad - has been in magical touch at home and abroad, and is anxious to continue the trend in New Zealand.

The carnage began during the Natwest Series in England when he averaged 109.66, and continued against the West Indies at home, where he scored centuries in four consecutive tests and averaged 178.

It was more of the same when it came to the one-day series against the West Indies: two more centuries, another score of 95 not out, and a series average 180.5.

Kallis said yesterday that there was an element of coincidence in the timing of his purple patch, but said he had learned a lot from his annus horribilis and was determined to look on the bright side of life.

"It's probably a coincidence, but then again - last year was very difficult for me and I learnt a lot," he said. "It just made me appreciate each day as it comes, and the need to go out there and enjoy what you're doing."

Kallis is unlikely to play in tonight's 50-over warm-up match against Northern Districts at Westpac Park, but he said he was looking forward to reacquainting himself with New Zealand, and carrying his momentum into Friday's opening one-dayer.

The last time he was in New Zealand, under Hansie Cronje's leadership in 1998-99, he emerged from the three-test series with an average of 71.75.

"I know I've been playing well recently but now I must start again - it's a new country, a new team and a new challenge, and I'm really looking forward to it."

The 28-year-old right hander said there was a tremendous team spirit in the dressing room under new captain Graeme Smith, and the buoyant atmosphere was breeding a strong sense of self-belief and identity.

Smith, who turned 23 just before departing for New Zealand, was elected captain after Shaun Pollock was dumped at the end of the World Cup.

South Africa will make a final decision on which three squad members to omit from the side this morning, but appear to be leaning towards resting Kallis, Pollock and Andre Nel - all of whom are carrying minor niggles.

The squads

South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Rudolph, Boeta Dippenaar, Ashwell Prince, Mark Boucher, Nicky Boje, Lance Klusener, Albie Morkel, Makhaya Ntini, Robin Peterson , Jacques Kallis, Andre Nel, Shaun Pollock.

Northern Districts: Robbie Hart (captain), James Marshall, Daniel Vettori, Hamish Marshall, Scott Styris, Matthew Hart, Joey Yovich, Grant Robinson, Bruce Martin, Daryl Tuffey, Grant Aldridge, Ian Butler, Mark Orchard.