'It's just another Test' - Kallis

Jacques Kallis maintains that his 100th Test, against New Zealand at Centurion today, is just another game.

"I don't mean to sound harsh, but it will be just another Test. There'll be no favours from the opposition and the way New Zealand like to play is to try to get under the opposition's skin," Kallis, 30, told Press Trust of India. "But knowing it is my 100th Test will make it special, it's an honour and privilege and a nice milestone to look back on one day and be proud of. When I started playing for South Africa, there was no way I could have known I was going to play 100 Tests."

Kallis, currently ranked second in the world behind Ricky Ponting, has been a champion for South Africa since making his debut in 1995, with 24 centuries at an average of 56.40. His allrounder status has been justified with 196 wickets at 31.68. He needs just 160 runs and four wickets to become the second player, after Garry Sobers, to score 8,000 runs and take 200 Test wickets.

Kallis said that he expected New Zealand to come hard at South Africa in much the same way Australia has recently. "We've gone through the whole Australian thing, so we know how to handle that sort of cricket. So I'm glad there has not been a clearout of players," he said. "The selectors have kept the same guys to play New Zealand and the experience of the Australian series will stand them in good stead. It's now up to the players to repay the good faith of the selectors and produce the results, even though four months of playing Australia does wear you out and the bodies are tired."