My Cricket Blog

Jacques Kallis believes South Africa will soon be able to challenge the worldwide consensus their bowling attack is one-dimensional.

South Africa, today set to take on an India team severely depleted by illness in the first of three Future Cup one-day internationals in Belfast, have a highly-respected seam-bowling unit.

They have not, however, unearthed a consistent world-class spinner since they were readmitted to international cricket in the early 1990s.

Kallis remains in the enviable position of being able to call on the frontline seam threats posed by Makhaya Ntini and Andre Nel - while the captain himself, among several other notables, purveys his own right-arm pace.

Yet in an era which has seen Australia’s Shane Warne and Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan capable of winning matches - and even series - almost on their own, South Africa’s cupboard has often been bare.

“Obviously Muralitharans and Shane Warnes don’t come round every day,” said Kallis.

“We need to find someone so we know what we are going to get from them and who can win the odd game for their country.”

The current crop of hopefuls include off-spinners Johan Botha and Thandi Tshabalala - and Kallis promised: “I think we do have a few guys in the pipeline who can produce the goods.

“One thing we are trying to move forward with is to try to find a bit of variety in our attack.

“We’ve got Dale Steyn with a bit of pace. Johan Botha was in the Afro-Asia side, and we have Thandi here to see what he has to offer.”

Kallis is hoping some of the above - as well as the likes of young batsman JP Duminy - can make a name for themselves in Ireland this week.

“From our point of view, it is a perfect opportunity to blood a few youngsters and see what we have in the pipelines for the future,” said the captain.

“It is important to promote cricket in Ireland too. The way they performed in the World Cup, they deserve a tournament like this.”

Kallis’ opposite number Rahul Dravid has more pressing concerns - in that around half of his squad of 15 were still suffering last night with the effects of “viral infections”.

He too, though, is determined to look beyond the immediate - at the chance for the younger members of his squad to make significant progress here and against England later this summer.

“It’s a good opportunity for some of these young guys to test themselves against really good opposition, in conditions they are not really used to,” he said.

“It’s very alien to the conditions we are used to in terms of weather and wickets. “This whole tour of Ireland and England will be a great learning experience for any of the youngsters - whether bowlers or batsmen.”