April 02, 2009

South Africa have decided to rest star all-rounder Jacques Kallis from the opening one-day international against Australia.

The 33-year-old pace bowler and No.4 batsman is likely to make his return from a groin-muscle injury in Sunday's second ODI match at Centurion.

"Jacques hasn't come through quite for Friday so he's going to be missing out," captain Graeme Smith said.

"Roelof (van der Merwe) is going to be missing out and Vaughan Van Jaarsveld and Wayne Parnell."

The selection leaves off-spinner Johan Botha to bat at No.8 followed by fast bowlers Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Makhaya Ntini.

Smith, who like Kallis missed South Africa's two Twenty20 International wins against Australia last week because of injury, has returned to the side after overcoming a fractured little finger.

"There's myself Herschelle (Gibbs) and Hashim (Amla) in the top three, Botha's at eight," Smith said.

"We bat deep enough. You always want your top order to take as much responsibility as possible.

"All three of us up front have had our success so it would be nice if we can really make it count here at Kingsmead.

"We're excited to go."

Australia have won the past three World Cups but Proteas coach Mickey Arthur can barely contain his excitement about how his squad is progressing in their push for a title campaign in 2011 on the sub-continent.

No.1-ranked South Africa host Australia for a five-match ODI series starting on Friday in Durban and Arthur says it's going to be ``huge''.

"We've prioritised what we want to get out of this series. So for us it's almost like the re-start of something," Arthur says.

"Friday for us is huge. You want to go one-nil up and hopefully you can then take momentum from the game on Friday."

Arthur said the Proteas would be using the series to experiment with combinations ahead of the 2011 World Cup.

"We are continually trying to have a look at what is going to be best for us," said Arthur, who mentored South Africa at the 2007 World Cup where they lost their semi-final to Australia.

"We've alluded to World Cups, there's a lot for them to play for.

"We've got a really good mix here.
"Time will tell, without wanting to get too excited.

"But I'm very happy and I think we're dead on track."