Reveals What Jacques Kallis Said After Australia Plundered 434 In 2006 Johannesburg ODI

No cricket fan will ever forget the 2006 Johannesburg One-Day International between Australia and South Africa, in which the latter won the five-match ODI series 3-2. The match had so high drama that Proteas fans were in tears when Mark Boucher hammered Brett Lee over mid-on for a four to give the home team the victory. Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith reviewed the classic, revealing Jacques Kallis’ statements during the mid-innings that “broke the ice” after his team was dismissed for 434/4 in 50 overs.

“Walking off the field after winning the toss and choosing to bowl first, you can imagine I wasn’t feeling that great as a captain. We had a very short space of time to turn it around. I thought ‘Let me pad up first as I have to open the batting. Let me get that done first’. It’s about getting my head ready to bat and we’ll get the team in the right frame of mind,” Smith told cricket.com

“While I was padding up, Jacques Kallis came launching into the room and said, ‘Bowlers we’ve done a great job and Australia are 15 runs short’. When the opposition had scored 434, it broke the ice a little bit and everyone burst out laughing. We then set some targets and everyone burst out laughing again,” he added further.

“As a captain, you can image how I felt walking off the field after winning the toss and electing to bowl first.” We only only a few hours to turn things around. ‘Let me pad up first because I’ll be opening the batting.’ Let me finish that first.’ Smith told cricket.com, “It’s about getting my head set to bat and then we’ll get the team in the correct state of mind.”

“As I was warming up, Jacques Kallis burst into the room and exclaimed, ‘Bowlers, we’ve done a fantastic job, and Australia is 15 runs down.’ When the enemy scored 434, the ice was broken a little and everyone came out laughing. Then we got down to business. We then set some targets and everyone burst out laughing again,” he added further