Jacques Kallis, a top South African, said he came to enjoy working with England in Sri Lanka although it felt strange at first to support the “super-enemy” for a year. on from coaching against them with his native Proteas.
All-round Kallis, the third-highest player in test history, is being held by England as a batting adviser for their two-game series in Sri Lanka starting Thursday.
“I think at first it was a little weird because England was the arch enemy when we played them but I believe in the world that we are alive now that guys are going and ‘Coaching other teams and in the T20s around the world guys will go and play with other teams, “Kallis said in a conference call from Galle.
“It’s a good group of boys with lots of young people who have bright times ahead of them, so it’s great to be able to help them achieve the goals and dreams they want to achieve. . “
Among the restraining coronavirus was the 45-year-old Kallis, who was notorious for his concussion and his approach at the raid, it was clear what kind of advice he wanted to give the English chief order passed.
“I think this is one of the shortest directions made on a test series that England has ever had and I have to be careful not to tinker with too many guys’ methods, ”he said.
“It’s more about the mental side of things and making sure they have good game plans and how they’re going to do about it and the kind of stuff and technical minutiae.”
A year ago Kallis was advising South Africa when they lost a home series in England.
But the race transformation policy, designed to ensure the team is representative of the entire country after only white cricketers were allowed to represent South Africa at the time of the split, -now applied to backroom staff as well.
South Africa Cricket’s acting chief executive, Kugandrie Covender, since he was suspended on misconduct charges, explained the policy in September by telling ESPNCricinfo: “We have to ask:‘ Could you have hired a black man in this role? ‘ We’re not saying we don’t want white people. “
– ‘Sometimes we’re in’ –
Kallis said that while he expressed sadness at the end of his time working with South Africa, he understood the wider context.
“We’ve lost a few players — for whatever reasons –– overseas,” Kallis said. “These are the times we are in. There are many other coaches who have gone on to coach other teams — Gary Kirsten, for example. This is the modern way of the world.
“It’s sad in a way that I can’t help out in South Africa but I really enjoy my time here in England.”
Kallis scored 13,289 runs at an average of over 55 in 166 Tests and delivered 292 wikis with his bowling speed during a 19-year international career.
Only Sachin Tendulkar from India and former Australian captain Ricky Ponting have earned more test runs.
But there is still a feeling that Kallis’ achievements have not been valued in comparison to more brilliant collections such as Garfield Sobers of the West Indies, Imran Khan of Pakistan and Ian Botham of England.
“They were a lot more aggressive and had different roles to play inside the side and I may have fallen into the more conservative side because of the team and the place where I was batting,” he said. Kallis.
“I never played the game for trophies or records. I played because I loved it and I wanted to win cricket matches.
“I was a terrible loser, I hated losing him, so that stopped me and he’s definitely driving me now I’ve finished the game in the other way of coaching. “
jdg / dj