Cape Town, Jan 7: After notching up his 40th Test hundred, Jacques Kallis on Thursday conceded that he is playing the best cricket of his life. Kallis said that it was the hard work and sweat he has put in for the last 3-4 years which was paying dividends now.
Kallis rated his second innings hundred (109 not out) as one of his best as he batted through the pain and navigated his team when the hosts were struggling at 98 for five wickets.
Excerpts from an interview:
On getting back-to-back hundreds at his home ground:
Yeah, it is certainly a great honour. The Newland crowd has always been fantastic and to get to a hundred in front of such a crowd is fantastic. I think it is the greatest ground in the world in my opinion. I had to be calm and fight to get the second hundred and that means a lot.
On his second innings hundred:
Yes, we were in trouble and needed a bit of partnership going. Fortunately for us, Boucher and I got going and then the lower order showed some guts and determination. To bat like that was something and to get us out off trouble was special.
On trying different shots, including the reverse sweep, in the second innings:
I was trying to do different and bring pressure back on the bowlers. The conditions were favouring the bowlers and especially when we had lost a few wickets, I was trying to build pressure. Fortunately it was one of those days when it came off well and paid off. If you top edge the first reverse sweep you will look like an idiot.
On batting with the side injury:
The team needed the guys to show a bit of fight out there and that was one of those situations. For most of the Test matches, the bowlers play with one or two niggles here and there.
On how he rates his second innings hundred:
Well, given the situation of the match and the conditions it is certainly up there with the best. As I said that to get a score on the board was always tough.
On whether he believes he is playing his best cricket:
I am trying probably as well as I have ever tried. I have worked on my game for the last three-four years and have tried to up my scoring rate and it is nice.