Kallis to make season debut for Cobras

Jacques Kallis is expected to play his first franchise game of the season when Cape Cobras host Dolphins in the Franchise 1-Day Cup today. Kallis moved back to his home franchise after three seasons at the Eastern Cape-based Warriors, but he has not had the opportunity to play domestic cricket this year because of international and IPL commitments.

After returning from the Champions League Twenty20, where he played for Kolkata Knight Riders, Kallis played the home series against Australia. He scored two half-centuries in three ODIs but managed only 58 runs in four innings during the Tests. Given the domestic schedule, Kallis will be able to play for Cobras only in the one-dayers. Richard Pybus, the Cobras coach, said he will do whatever he can to give Kallis the necessary match practice.

"From a big picture perspective, it's critical that national players are playing domestic cricket whenever they can," Pybus told ESPNCricinfo. " There is a lot of cricket for them coming up, so we have to be able to manage guys like Jacques over a long season and make informed, judicious decisions about how much they should be playing."

For Pybus, Kallis' return to Cobras is an advantage because many of the young players look up to him as a local hero. "We win all-round because the youngsters want to play alongside him, the standard of cricket is lifted when the national players are involved and it becomes more attractive for the public to watch," Pybus said. "It's his cricketing home. He is playing for a team that he has an emotional connection with."

Although Kallis' Test performances, particularly with the bat, were not a reason for major concern, there were aspects of his game that could do with polishing. Kallis was roughed up by 18-year old fast bowler, Pat Cummins, who used his pace and the short ball effectively. He was also ineffective with the ball against Australia, taking one wicket in 28 overs at an average of 121 in the Tests.

Pybus said he had offered Kallis assistance if the allrounder wanted it ahead of the Tests against Sri Lanka, which begin on December 15. "I have asked him if there is anything he would like me to have a look at, but Jacques knows his game," Pybus said. "He knows what he is doing."

Cobras are on top the Franchise 1-Day Cup table and victory against Dolphins on Wednesday will guarantee them a home final. The second and third placed teams will square off in the only semi-final to determine the other finalist.