South African batsman out of Durban Test and statistics say India should be happy
The South Africans began the day on a bad note, even before the first ball was bowled. Their vice-captain and middle-order mainstay Jacques Kallis was ruled out of the Test on Tuesday morning, due to a back injury that is creating difficulty in movement.
According to an official statement released here, Kallis got out of bed on Sunday with a sharp shooting pain in his mid-to-lower thoracic spine and has been receiving treatment from the team physio since. The Wanderers Test had begun with news about Kallis too. That, however, was related to the cricketer causing ‘injury’ to national pride by not singing the South African anthem with the team.
With a series to save, South Africa can ill-afford to lose a key member of their star cast.
A struggling top-order has been causing their coach Mickey Arthur not just a few gray hair. Kallis’ absence will only add to the pressure. The injured himself will have been looking forward to this Test with an eye on personal history. In the last four Tests in Durban, Kallis has 575 runs, including four centuries, at an average of 95.83 as compared to a career average of 55.29. Incidentally, from seven Tests against India, Kallis averages 68.66.
In the first Test, Kallis had 12 and 27 from his two outings at the Wanderers.
