When Jacques Kallis made a crucial half century on the way to aiding South Africa to a historic victory at the SCG in the third one day international century, he not only joined the elusive 10000 run club in ODI’s but also, earned Ricky Ponting’s assessment of his value to the game and South Africa’s cause.
Kallis needed just sixteen runs before the third one day international in Sydney to join the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Brian Lara,Sanath Jayasuriya, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Ricky Ponting himself. He did it in style.
But Ponting’s word negate and rather harsh and unfair perceptions especially those back in Kallis’ native South Africa that have often suggested he does not score fast enough to merit a place in the one day squad, let alone team.
Ponting is quoted as saying, “Kallis has a remarkable record and I will definitely not criticise him for the manner in which he bats. I think criticism aimed at him is unfair. I believe that is how South Africa use Kallis. It’s his job to take the singles and two’s to pave the way for big hitters such as Albie Morkel and Mark Boucher to win the game at the end. There are plenty of us that would like to bat at a run a ball in one-day cricket, but we’re just not good enough.”
Very well said, Ponting, we could not have heaped any more praise on the South African power house even if we wanted to!
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