Cricket: Pair of Jacques a trump hand

By RICHARD BOOCK in Hamilton

New Zealand suffered their first Jacques attack of the summer yesterday as South Africa cruised into a reasonably comfortable position on the opening day of the first test in Hamilton.

Desperate to make a statement at the start of the series after the disappointment of the one-dayers, South Africa finished well placed at 279 for four following some commanding batting from the two Jacques, Kallis and Rudolph.

Kallis would have become the first player after Sir Donald Bradman to post centuries in five consecutive tests but for a terminal lapse when he was on 92.

His dismissal in the final session, caught at long-leg after getting under an attempted hook shot, followed the earlier demise of Rudolph and allowed New Zealand to recover some of the ground lost through the middle session.

At stumps, the tourists' solid start was being held together by veteran batsman Gary Kirsten and nightwatchman cum spinner Paul Adams, who is sure to be offered a heavy workload over the next few days.

Aggressive and powerful, yet also patient and diligent, Kallis brushed aside memories of his lean trot in the one-day series and reinforced his reputation as one of the most dangerous batsmen in the modern game.

The 28-year-old right-hander looked at ease against a fairly harmless-looking New Zealand attack, picking up singles and rotating the strike intelligently, and sharing with Rudolph in a 132-run partnership for the third wicket.

The only unbridled aggression was unleashed against off-spinner Paul Wiseman, whose pre-lunch introduction ended abruptly after Kallis lofted him for a brace of sixes and took another boundary for good measure.

Watchful always, Kallis was nevertheless ruthless when the bowlers missed their line or length, to the extent that when he brought up his half-century after 107 minutes (79 balls), 42 of his runs had come from boundaries.

Having opted to bat first on a slow surface, South African skipper Graeme Smith would have been moderately pleased with the position at stumps, but possibly unhappy about the manner of some of the dismissals.

Smith was deceived in the air by Daniel Vettori and holed out to mid-wicket; Herschelle Gibbs slammed a Vettori long-hop directly to short cover; and Kallis was tied down by the second new ball before aiming a hook-shot at Jacob Oram.

The only wicket to fall to a defensive shot was that of Rudolph, who overcame a hesitant start to strike a handsome 72, having posted his third test 50 in 124 minutes (101 balls).

Rudolph, who struck seven boundaries and one lofted six. edged a Scott Styris' delivery soon after the tea break and was brilliantly caught by a diving wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum, who went a long way towards answering some of the questions about his glovework.

New Zealand's pace attack made life difficult for the tourists when the ball was new, but struggled to restrict the South African batsmen in the heat of the day and is likely to come under similar scrutiny this afternoon.

As for the spinners, Vettori sacrificed economy for a mostly attacking approach and while bowling only two maidens in his 23-over spell, picked up the opening two wickets and created a smattering of half-chances.

Wiseman, however, took a pummelling from Kallis in particular, and will need to bounce back quickly over the next couple of days if he is to enjoy his recall.

Kallis' purple patch

158 and 44 v West Indies, first test, Wanderers.

177 and did not bat v West Indies, second test, Kingsmead.

73 and 130no v West Indies, third test, Newlands.

130no and did not bat v West Indies, fourth test, Centurion.

92 and ? v New Zealand, first test, Westpac Park.