Sport Today

++++++
"I think we've got a definite psychological edge over them now,"
Kallis says coolly, "and our home advantage in Johannesburg is hugely
significant. The Wanderers is one of our favourite grounds. So we're
feeling very, very confident. But it's vital we start firing again
from day one and go after England from the very start. If we can put
real pressure on them, then we know that they'll crumble."

-------
.....Soon afterwards, in his endless quest for betterment, Kallis
urged Paddy Upton, the South African's biokineticist who also holds an
MA in sports psychology, "to work on my mind and help me play every
single ball on its merits. He also helped sort out some of my thinking
off the field. They're little details but it's amazing how they get
your mind right at the crease."

Such focus inevitably means that, while you might choose Kallis to bat
for your life, he is not a man to make the heart race with natural
flair. Yet to hear Kallis talk of his father's death from cancer is to
understand that a searing personal conviction underpins his
extraordinarily sustained form over the last year.

"We heard something was wrong with my dad during the [2003] World Cup.
He ..

Full interview at
http://sport.guardian.co.uk/cricket/comment/0,10070,1386782,00.html

++++++

He does?  Why would he think that?  In the second test South Africa
got well on top and ended up fighting for survival, saved only by the
weather.  The evidence seems to suggest that this England side doesn't
crumble when the pressure's on, although admittedly England do not
look to be in good nick in general.  Nevertheless, one win (even a
good one) after a fight for survival and a loss is hardly giving a
definite pyschological edge!

When two teams are level, the team which won the last match always has the
'psychological edge'.  Mind you, I'm not sure we should be too concerned by
Mr Kallis's psychology lessons.  After all, he is reputed to be the man who
asked "how far above sea level are we?" whilst running on a beach.

Andrew

WHo knows what he THINKS, but what did you expect him to SAY?

The series is all square with two to play. SA were the *** side in
T3. Now he might be thinking "oooh... those *** poms are going to
kick our butts in Jo'burg" but he's sure as hell not going to say that
to the press.

Plus he has a point. England arrived as favourites and have not
established the ascendancy yet. They weren't looking for T4 to be the
crunch match. SA would be happier with that situation than England.

Also demanded of a waiter in a NZ hotel why, in a country with so many
sheep, he couldn't get bacon for breakfast.
Oh... and voted for Matthew Hayden as SA POY.

The mind games aspect was not lot on me Bob - but thanks for the kind
explanation anyway :-)

When two teams are level, the team which won the last match always has
the
'psychological edge'. Mind you, I'm not sure we should be too concerned
by
Mr Kallis's psychology lessons. After all, he is reputed to be the man
who
asked "how far above sea level are we?" whilst running on a beach.

That was Herschelle Gibbs, according to Gary Kirsten in his auto-bio,
"Gazza"
which I am busy reading.  Much more believable.