The dependable Mr Kallis

It is 17 years since Kallis made his debut in 1995, against England. Nobody else from that game is still playing professional cricket, yet he is bowling quicker than 80mph, with some serious bouncers, and not just churning out Test hundreds as he was wont to do but dominating attacks and stamping his authority, going where no all-rounder has been before ... “There is no substitute for hard work,” Kallis said yesterday. “I had a stress fracture in my back in 1997 and had to come home early from the A tour of England. My bowling action is strength-based so I did a lot of work with the trainer and took a course of creatine – small amounts, making sure it was legal ..."