Christo Buchner

Adelaide. – Jacques Kallis has dismissed critics of his slow batting style as ignorant.

“People who criticise me don’t realise the dynamics of the team,” said Kallis, who on Friday became the first South African to notch 10,000 runs in one-day internationals.

Kallis, 33, who scored 60 in the victory over Australia at the SCG, moved his total up to 10,044 runs. He also needs only four wickets to become only the second player in world cricket to achieve the twin feat of 10,000 runs and 250 wickets. The only other is Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasuriya.

Kallis on Friday became only the eighth batsman to reach the figure of 10,000 runs.

The others are Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Jayasuriya, Ricky Ponting, Inzamam ul-Haq and Brian Lara.

In spite of this Kallis still has to endure heaps of criticism because of his slow batting rate.

“I don’t take any notice of that. In any event, it’s people who have no idea what is said in our team talks and strategy sessions that say things like that,” said Kallis.

“It often happens that I go and bat with the game plan demanding that I have to keep things together. I can’t then just walk in and start slogging.”

Kallis said there is a positive and negative aspect to becoming the first South African to reach a milestone.

“I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to play in so many (286) games. There were many brilliant South African batsmen to miss out because of the isolation years. Who knows what they could have achieved,” he said.

One of the games that stood out for him was his one-day international debut against England at Newlands in 1996.

“It feels like a lifetime ago. It was a lifetime ago!”

“Then there was the game against the West Indies at the Wanderers when we had to reach 320 to win and I scored 140. In a team context the 438-game against Australia is also something I will always remember,” said Kallis.

For the “rock” of the South African team, as Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has dubbed Kallis, the tour has been a very pleasant experience.

“It’s great to play in a team here that is winning. For somebody like me who has lost badly here before this is a very pleasant change,” he said.

Kallis believes the core of the South African team is close to being the best in which he has played.

“Our test team, in particular, is something special. The one-day side still has to improve, but there are many positive signs,” he said.

Kallis still hopes to notch a test series victory against the Aussies on home soil next month, and would like to win a World Cup in his career.

“There were so many disappointments and failures in past World Cup tournaments that it is one tournament where I would like to taste glory,” he said.

Kallis also has no idea when he will retire.

“I will see how I feel after the World Cup in 2011. I will probably just wake up one day and realise it’s time to say goodbye,” he said.