Proteas play down Kallis fears

Jacques Kallis receives treatment on an elbow injury before retiring hurt on 160

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Jacques Kallis gave South Africa an injury scare after helping them dominate the opening day of their tour of England against a depleted Somerset attack at Taunton.

Kallis had reached an impressive 152 when he attempted to hook a delivery from former England paceman Andrew Caddick and was struck on the elbow.

He looked in pain and received lengthy treatment out in the middle from South African physio Shane Jabaar.

Kallis briefly continued his innings and flayed the next two short-pitched balls from Caddick for four before retiring hurt on 160, made from just 157 balls with 23 fours and two sixes.

A South Africa spokesman said: “There is bruising around the elbow and Jacques has an ice pack on it but we are not worried and there is no structural damage.”

It was the only downside for South Africa as Kallis and opener Hashim Amla entertained a near capacity crowd by torturing the Somerset bowlers.

Opener Amla achieved the highest individual score for the Proteas in 13 meetings with Somerset - 172 - as he surpassed the 157 by Sibley Snooke at Bath in 1907.

Then Kallis continued in the same vein during a partnership of 216 in 43 overs with 25-year-old Amla as South Africa reached 455 for three by the close.

Amla, who is on his first senior tour of this country, was circumspect during the early part of his innings, taking 19 balls to get off the mark.

But he then flourished against an attack lacking first-team bowlers Charl Willoughby, Ben Phillips, Alfonso Thomas and Ian Blackwell.

He reached his century with an onslaught shortly after lunch against leg-spinner Michael Munday. Amla lofted him over wide long-on for six and then picked up boundaries from the next three deliveries to go to his century.

Hashim Amla drives through the off side on the way to a fluent century on day one

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Kallis has often been a major thorn in England’s side and he was also looking in ominous form before being forced out of the action by Caddick.

It was an encouraging if not exactly taxing start for South Africa in the first of two warm-up games ahead of the opening npower Test against England on July 10.

The tourists fielded nine of their expected Test side with only injured skipper Grame Smith and rested paceman Dale Steyn not involved.

The England selectors may have hoped Somerset would have given South Africa more of a searching examination. But, in addition to the bowling quartet, Somerset skipper Justin Langer and opener Marcus Trescothick were rested.

And it was only veteran and stand-in captain Caddick who posed any sort of threat to the South Africa batsman. The 39-year-old, playing his third first-class match of the season, picked up the two of the three wickets to fall.

Caddick could not have made a better start, striking with the first ball of the match to dismiss Neil McKenzie lbw after South Africa had elected to bat.

But bat dominated ball after that with Amla and JP Duminy adding 146 in 30 overs.

Caddick struck again when Duminy (64) flicked at a leg-side delivery during his first over of the afternoon session and was caught by wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter.

Caddick looked more impressive during his third spell of nine overs immediately after the resumption and worked up a good rhythm. But the remainder of the bowlers were easy pickings for Amla and Kallis.

It needed a run-out to break up the pair with Amla run out by Zander de Bruyn’s throw from backward point after striking 22 fours and one six in his 217-ball innings.