South Africa will be desperate to rediscover their form in the second Test against Australia this week, with the duel between Jacques Kallis and Shane Warne seen as a key contest in deciding the result.Both men endured mediocre performances in Australia’s seven-wicket victory within three days in Cape Town last week and the Durban Test, starting on Friday, offers the pair a chance to stamp their authority on the three-match series.All rounder Kallis is regarded as the lynchpin of South Africa’s batting order but he only managed scores of six and 36 in the first Test, dismissed on both occasions following sloppy cut shots. On the other hand, Warne would have been equally as disappointed with his return at Newlands, where the leg spinner’s 27.5 overs returned a match analysis of 3-118.“I wasn’t that happy with the way I bowled, I struggled for rhythm, I even bowled a few no-balls and things like that,” Warne told reporters.Kallis’s dismissals could be partially due to South Africa’s stated commitment of taking a more aggressive approach at the crease after the tactic worked in the one-day series triumph. The normally-conservative Kallis, however, said he was unperturbed by perennial criticism against his slow scoring rate, and hinted that he may revert to type.“It’s never got to me and I’ve kind of laughed it off. That’s been the role I’ve had to play in the team and in one-day cricket your role differs a lot more, but in Test cricket I’ve worked out what works for me, “ Kallis told reporters.“Other than that, I’ll try and do what I’ve done over the past few years to be successful. I’m not going to change my gameplan too much as It’s been successful and I still see myself playing the same role,” he added.The Durban pitch traditionally offers swing and movement off the seam on the first day, before flattening into a batsman’s pitch until midway through the fourth day.Telford Vice
