04 January,2010 08:07 AM IST | | Agencies
How is it to bat with your next-door neighbour? Ask South Africa's Mark Boucher, who put on 89 for the sixth wicket with centurion Jacques Kallis on Day One of the third Test against England at Newlands yesterday.
"I always enjoy batting with Jacques. His defence is so good and he's so calm. He's hungry for runs and he's worked hard on his fitness. Now the hard work is paying off. A hungry Jacques Kallis is always a dangerous sign for the opposition," said Boucher, who hit an aggressive 51.
South Africa recovered from 127 for five to reach 279 for six at the close of a day that had started with fast bowler Makhaya Ntini dropped from the team in a move certain to hasten his retirement as a Test cricketer.
England bowler James Anderson joined the praise for Kallis. Asked whether he had bowled against a more difficult opponent, Anderson said: "Probably not. He's very patient and he plays the ball very late, so he is in position even if the ball is reverse swinging."
It was a crucial innings by Kallis for a team under pressure after losing the second Test in Durban by an innings and 98 runs to go 1-0 down in a four-match series. It was Kallis' 33rd Test century, his sixth at Newlands and his third in successive Tests against England at the ground.
Rain delayed the start of play by half an hour and Andrew Strauss' decision to bowl first paid an early dividend when Anderson had Ashwell Prince caught behind for nought off the fourth ball of the match. Ntini was replaced by Friedel de Wet.
