Proteas batting consultant Jacques Kallis believes the team that will take on England in the first Test will be more than ready for the occasion and full of determination.
Kallis was included in Mark Boucher’s coaching staff last week alongside former Proteas bowler Charl Langeveldt, who returned from Afghanistan following his stint as their bowling coach.
The 44-year-old Kallis is fully convinced that the South Africans can put their bad recent form behind them and front up to the English team to become a good test outfit again.
‘We want to get back to where we need to be as a team, to where we belong. If we can get our processes right and have game-plans that suit our game then we can be competitive. Our guys are going to come out there fighting and with Bouchie (Boucher) as coach, he has already installed that fighting manner within the team. We are confident about the series and we believe we can win it,’ said Kallis ahead of the start of the first test, which gets underway in Centurion on Boxing Day.
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The former Proteas all-rounder, also thinks that the players will take a lot of confidence from playing at home in front of the crowds. The players are expected to be able to play well in a calm, familiar environment.
Given the short time that they’ve had to prepare for the series, Kallis has put his trust in the squad to challenge England in every possible aspect.
‘The guys are very keen to learn, and despite not having the ideal preparation, they have made due with what they have been given. We want to get the confidence back and go out there and trust the process.’
Kallis, who featured prominently against England through his years as the kingpin of the Proteas’ batting lineup, expects Chris Silverwood’s team to be as tough as ever.
‘England are a good side. They’ve played some good cricket in the last while and they’ve got some world class players, while Joe Root is a great captain,’ he said.
Kallis hopes this series is only the start of a new chapter for South African cricket, which will see the Proteas become one of the best teams in the world again.
‘I want to get South African cricket back to where it belongs. It is a passion of mine. We believe the guys off the field will take the off the field stuff to a good level and if we can do it on the field and get a good balance then we can take the whole of South African cricket to where it belongs,’ added Kallis.
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