Kallis’ ODI role “unlikely to change”

JACQUES Kallis may have been the difference between South Africa and Pakistan in the recently concluded Test series doing more than any other player to secure a 1-0 victory for the tourists, but one-day cricket is “a different story” and he is taking nothing for granted.

His recent ‘new role’ (as a spectator) in Twenty20 cricket has also been consigned to the depths of his memory as he looks forward to resuming his key batting role, as ‘anchor’, at either number three or four when the first ODI starts in Lahore on Thursday. “I don’t believe my role is going to change too much, if at all.The basics of one-day cricket remain the same and we have been successful over the last couple of years sticking to those basics,” Kallis said.”The last time we toured Pakistan we played some very good one-day cricket and won the series 3-2 so that means we’ll be starting with confidence.”Although there have been a few changes in the squad since the last tour we still know that we can win here, and have won here in the past, so that helps,” Kallis said.As for his phenomenal form in the Test series which saw Kallis post three centuries and a half century in four innings for an aggregate of 421 runs at an average of 210.5, the man-of-the-series prefers to remember his performance at the World Cup over six months ago as a key to his form over 50 overs.”They are very different forms of the game with different skills required so, although I know I’m hitting the ball well, I’ve put the Test series to the back of mind now.SuperSport Zone”I don’t believe my role is going to change too much, if at all.The basics of one-day cricket remain the same and we have been successful over the last couple of years sticking to those basics,” Kallis said.”The last time we toured Pakistan we played some very good one-day cricket and won the series 3-2 so that means we’ll be starting with confidence.”Although there have been a few changes in the squad since the last tour we still know that we can win here, and have won here in the past, so that helps,” Kallis said.As for his phenomenal form in the Test series which saw Kallis post three centuries and a half century in four innings for an aggregate of 421 runs at an average of 210.5, the man-of-the-series prefers to remember his performance at the World Cup over six months ago as a key to his form over 50 overs.”They are very different forms of the game with different skills required so, although I know I’m hitting the ball well, I’ve put the Test series to the back of mind now.SuperSport Zone