Jacques Kallis is set to return to Number 3 position in ODIs
South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis, who retired from Test cricket after the match against India last year, is poised to return to the No. 3 position in One Day Internationals (ODIs). South Africa’s 3-match ODI series against Sri Lanka is beginning on July 6, and Kallis has been entrusted with the responsibility of building a one-day innings from the No. 3 spot once again.
The country has been chopping and changing the batting order for sometime now to find what would suit them the best for the 2015 World Cup, but Russell Domingo, the national coach, has stated that he wants a settled look to the batting order once again, with the big event set to start in less than a year now.
“Jacques is back and he has held the No. 3 position for a long time but hasn't played a lot of ODI cricket recently so he will probably slot back into that position,” Domingo said. “We have a good understanding of what our batting order is going to be and we are going to try and be as consistent as possible with it.”
Kallis, in the 325 ODIs that he has played, has come in at one-down in 197 of them, enjoying a slightly superior batting average of 46.52 at that position compared to his overall average of 44.86. Given his vast experience, the 38-year-old’s return to the team despite a brief hiatus in his ODI career should provide South Africa the solidity at the top order.
South Africa’s preparations for the World Cup are in full swing, with the series against the Lankans being an ideal opportunity to settle into a rhythm. Domingo is pleased with the intensity of his team’s preparations so far and feels that the performance in Sri Lanka will be dependent on how well the unit copes up with the heat and humidity on offer.
“The guys practiced with good purpose and intensity so we are good to go in terms of getting the tour started after a bit of rain,” Domingo said. “It's been hot and humid. These are some of the factors that we have to get used to in tomorrow's game. Tomorrow's game will be a good start in terms of acclimatizing to these hot conditions.”