'I want to lead a happy life'

We've heard you're good at golf.
Yes, I love playing golf. I was a scratch player at one time but now I'm into it much more. I am a two-handicap and one of the better golfers in the team.

Who are the South African players that have made an impression on you?
Jacques Kallis is the best batsman at the moment, according to me, and is an amazing guy; I like to watch him. He is very similar to me technique-wise. I like the way he drives the ball and, more importantly, he is patient. Of all-time it would be Gary Kirsten, whom I look to as a mentor. He was so strong in his head.

Did Kirsten ever give you any advice that has helped you in the middle?
About the mental approach: always knowing that there is more time than you think.

Are you a patient character?
Not really. I love to play my strokes and am very aggressive. And that is why I appreciate Gary, as he taught me to be a lot more patient.

You play the guitar, don't you?
I love my music and when I am not playing sport, I play my guitar, which is one of my hobbies. I don't carry it in my kit as it is a hassle with all the baggage.

What do you have on your iPod now?
Counting Crows.

What are your vices?
Probably socialising. It keeps me away from practice [laughs]. I don't think I have any.

What's the one thing you can't live without?
Geooida, my girlfriend.

A few of your team-mates have dated the most beautiful faces on earth. Is your girlfriend a star too?
No, she is just a normal girl whom I met three years ago at school. She studies architecture, loves singing and has a very good voice.

What are your ambitions?
To be the best cricketer that ever lived on this planet.

Seriously?
I just want to lead a happy, normal life and live my dreams.

One cricketer you would like to meet.
Steve Waugh. His experience and his unbelievable record with the Australian side are phenomenal, and it would be nice to have a chat with him.

Whose number would you like to have in your telephone diary?
I've got all the numbers I want.

Graeme Smith: tough or soft?
Graeme is a tough guy and a very good leader and likes to lead from the front. He is a hard captain, and is hard on everyone and very positive. That's what I like in a captain.

What's the first thing you do when you walk out to bat?
All I do is believe in myself and have faith in myself. Mentally I have a habit of saying to myself, "You're the man and you're the one who's going to do the job".

Who do you like to have at the other end?
Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher.

Which is your best Test innings so far - the 52 not out in fading light at Durban or the 178 in Barbados?
It's very hard to say because during the Durban game there was a lot of pressure on me as I had to prove myself: the whole country's hopes rested on me. But the Barbados innings was the biggest score. It's hard to tell, as one put a lot of pressure on me while the other didn't. But both of them taught me one thing: patience.

What's your take on sledging?
I like doing it whenever it is required. I haven't got a problem with sledging; it's part of the game's tradition and I hope it'll always remain that way.

Who are the best sledgers in South Africa?
Mark Boucher and Graeme Smith.

You are spoken of as the future of South African cricket, but you couldn't find a place in the ODI side until recently. How did you take that?
I've always believed that I've been a one-day sort of player. Yes, I've struggled to bat for long periods in the past, but that is working out now and I'm very sure that I will find my way into the side soon. I've no worries.