‘Beating Australia in tests equals World Cup win’

“It’s a tough tour they are the best in the world and they are ahead of everyone at the moment and you want to test yourself against them.”

South Africa will tour Australia at the end of 2008 beside touring England next summer.

“These are the goals that the team have set and I want to be heavily involved,” Kallis said.

Kallis, who was dropped for World Twenty20 event back home last month, accumulated 421 runs in the two-test series against Pakistan and was adjudged man of the series.

It included successive centuries in a 160-run win in the first test and another in the drawn test at Lahore. South Africa won the series 1-0 – its first away series win against a major subcontinent opponent over the last seven years.

“In Pakistan its the best batting wickets in the world by a long way,” Kallis said

“The wickets are pretty flat here and batter friendly, you just have to make slight adjustment in your technique from South Africa where there is a lot more bounce.”

Since its readmission to international cricket in 1991, World Cup is the trophy that has eluded South Africa and they were even labeled as ‘chokers’ of international cricket.

“It’s a disappointment that we haven’t won a World Cup,” Kallis said.

“I think we have been in positions to win it but we made crucial mistakes. It has been frustrating but I don’t think that’s due to choking or anything like that.

“With the experienced players and youngsters in the team now I think we do have the ability to put our hands up in the big tournaments and win those tournaments

“We have done that couple of times in the past, but not regularly.”

Kallis was impressed with the way young South African players were progressing in international cricket. Left-arm spinner Paul Harris – in his first away series in Pakistan – accounted for 12 wickets and played a major part in securing the series while fast bowler Dale Steyn also took five-wicket haul in the first test.

“One big thing for us now is we have found the spinner that can do a good job for us so I think that’s going to be a key for us,” Kallis said.

“We have also found few fast bowlers that have come through like Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel. We are finally getting nice rounded side where we have got most of our bases covered.”

Kallis said that captain Graeme Smith, who was appointed after the 2003 World Cup, has now matured enough to lead the side.

“He has learnt a lot over the years and makes a lot of correct decisions than what he used to. I do believe he has done a good job and all the guys are behind him.”

South Africa will take on Pakistan in the five-match one-day series – starting from Oct. 18 and Kallis felt he hoped to continue his run of form in the shorter version of the game.

“I’m in good form and hopefully I would put it in the one-day series. Nature of the game won’t change, it’s just a matter of picking up the intensity and obviously the pace (to score quickly),” he said.