Publications
Partners
Eduan Roos
Potchefstroom – The South African cricket team has been boosted with the news that Jacques Kallis has been declared fit for the first Test against England.
The all-round star has been struggling with a rib injury for the past two months. It kept him out of the one-day series against the visitors.
However, he will only play as batsman after not bowling a single delivery during the Proteas’ training camp at Senwas Park.
“The injury is feeling a lot better and I’m batting without any trouble. But I don’t think I’ll be able to bowl, at least not in the first Test,” said Kallis.
However, coach Mickey Arthur says the team are still holding thumbs that Kallis will also be able to be considered as a bowler.
“There are still 72 hours before the Test starts and we’ll look at him again closer to the time,” Arthur said on Sunday.
The first of the four Tests starts as SuperSport Park in Centurion on Wednesday.
Arthur said that Dale Steyn is also ready to have a go at the English batsmen.
It probably means that the Proteas will only require three specialist seam bowlers in their starting team, with Ryan McLaren possibly set for a debut.
Steyn, Makhaya Ntini and Morné Morkel all impressed in Potchefstroom, while McLaren and Paul Harris can be used to limit the run-scoring.
Meanwhile, Ashwell Prince has said that he is delighted to be back in the South African set-up after an absence of almost nine months.
Prince, Ntini and Harris last played for the Proteas in March in the Test series against Australia.
Prince opened the batting with Graeme Smith in the last Test and scored an impressive 150 in his opening debut.
“Much has been said about where I should feature in the batting order, particularly after the century at Newlands,” said Prince.
“However, I batted in the middle order for 47 Tests and it is definitely where I’m the most comfortable. I got my chance again in the new role and I will play wherever I’m needed.”
Prince does not expect to be rusty.
“Makhaya, Paul and myself played a lot of first class cricket while the guys were involved in the one-day series,” he said.
Potchefstroom – The South African cricket team has been boosted with the news that Jacques Kallis has been declared fit for the first Test against England.
The all-round star has been struggling with a rib injury for the past two months. It kept him out of the one-day series against the visitors.
However, he will only play as batsman after not bowling a single delivery during the Proteas’ training camp at Senwas Park.
“The injury is feeling a lot better and I’m batting without any trouble. But I don’t think I’ll be able to bowl, at least not in the first Test,” said Kallis.
However, coach Mickey Arthur says the team are still holding thumbs that Kallis will also be able to be considered as a bowler.
“There are still 72 hours before the Test starts and we’ll look at him again closer to the time,” Arthur said on Sunday.
The first of the four Tests starts as SuperSport Park in Centurion on Wednesday.
Arthur said that Dale Steyn is also ready to have a go at the English batsmen.
It probably means that the Proteas will only require three specialist seam bowlers in their starting team, with Ryan McLaren possibly set for a debut.
Steyn, Makhaya Ntini and Morné Morkel all impressed in Potchefstroom, while McLaren and Paul Harris can be used to limit the run-scoring.
Meanwhile, Ashwell Prince has said that he is delighted to be back in the South African set-up after an absence of almost nine months.
Prince, Ntini and Harris last played for the Proteas in March in the Test series against Australia.
Prince opened the batting with Graeme Smith in the last Test and scored an impressive 150 in his opening debut.
“Much has been said about where I should feature in the batting order, particularly after the century at Newlands,” said Prince.
“However, I batted in the middle order for 47 Tests and it is definitely where I’m the most comfortable. I got my chance again in the new role and I will play wherever I’m needed.”
Prince does not expect to be rusty.
“Makhaya, Paul and myself played a lot of first class cricket while the guys were involved in the one-day series,” he said.
