Ahead of the upcoming Boxing Day Test, Jacques Kallis, South Africa’s new batting consultant, has sent a warning to England on Sunday (December 22), saying the hosts are looking to pressurize Joe Root in the upcoming four-match Test series starting on December 26 in Centurion.
The three Lions are set to for an around two-month long tour of South Africa to play 4 Tests, three One Day Internationals and as many as T20 Internationals starting later this month.
While Root, England Test skipper, is currently under a bit of pressure for his batting form and Proteas legend said they would make the most of it in the upcoming home Test series.
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As per reports in Sport24.co.za, Kallis said of Root, “He's under a bit of pressure but every captain goes through that. They've kept him as captain so they obviously believe in him. We'll certainly try to keep the pressure on him, and on England.”
However, Kallis admitted that Root is a “world-class” player and he will be certainly up for a big fight in the upcoming Test Championship matches in South Africa.
He continued, “It's probably an area we will try and target and make sure we put as much pressure on him, but he's a world-class player. So just because he is under pressure doesn't mean he's not going to have a good series. No doubt that he will be up for a big fight and he'll want to turn it around. We have to make sure we are on the ball against him.”
Meanwhile, Kallis lauded England's star all-rounder Ben Stokes, saying that he will be a 'key player' for the touring side and the hosts will have good strong plans against him with both bat and ball in the upcoming series.
Praising Stokes, the Proteas great said: “He's certainly got the talent to. I suppose it's up to him how hungry he is and how far he wants to take his game. The one thing that's been good is that he's done it in a lot of formats and now he's doing it in Test cricket as well, which is very pleasing to watch - it's always nice seeing all-rounders come through.”
Kallis signed off by saying, “He'll be a key player for them and we will have good strong plans against him with both bat and ball.”
(With Sport24.co.za Inputs)
