Kallis doubtful for first Test

Jacques Kallis - doubtful for the first Test © Getty Images

Jacques Kallis could miss the first Test against India at Kanpur due to a side strain he suffered during the tour game against the Indian Board President's XI. He was advised to not take further part in the match, and a media spokesperson for the team said that Kallis's fitness would be assessed before he would be picked.

"He has been advised not to take any more part in the ongoing match," the BBC website quoted Gerald de Kock, the media spokesperson. "His fitness will be assessed on Wednesday before a decision is taken regarding his participation in the Kanpur Test."

Kallis scored 10 runs off 39 balls before bowling only three overs in the game. His role as a No.3 batsman as well as a quick bowler was seen as pivotal for a largely inexperienced South African side that had struggled to compete recently. Since the start of 2004 South Africa have lost 12 of 18 one-dayers, and have won only two of seven Tests. Kallis's part was a significant one during the year, for he scored 1585 runs and picked up 22 wickets. Admittedly, the wickets came at the unusually high cost of 43.18.

A few days earlier, Kallis had admitted to feeling good about his game. "I have always seen myself as a batsman and bowler. The ball is coming out sweetly, and I am confident of doing well," he had said to PTI. But his absence would mean that South Africa will have lost a player well-versed with Indian conditions - a futher blow to a side reeling from the late withdrawals of Nicky Boje and Herschelle Gibbs. It was something that Kallis recognised and mentioned only days before the injury. "We have lost experienced players since the World Cup and you can't buy experience in some supermarket. It takes a while to replace the vacant slots."