Kallis confident in Proteas top order
Veteran all-rounder Jacques Kallis hopes the Proteas' top-order batsmen will pick up where they left off against England when they square up against Australia in the three-match test series starting in Brisbane on Friday.
South Africa's top four batsmen – Graeme Smith, Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla and Kallis – all scored centuries in the 2-0 series win over England in July and August.
Amla, who made 482 runs in three tests, hit the first triple century by an SA batsman with an unbeaten 311 in the opening match at the Oval.
"As a batting unit we have been firing well," Kallis said on Wednesday.
"It comes down to the guys wanting it, wanting to perform and batting as a group.
"I know the guys are hungry to do well here. We set ourselves high standards in the UK and hopefully we can continue with those high standards that we set for ourselves."
Kallis, who has recovered from a bout of flu that saw him miss last week's warm-up match in Sydney, said the Proteas would not be clouded by their efforts to retain the top spot in the world test rankings.
The South Africans, facing Australia at the Gabba for the first time since 1963, will hope to emulate their performance the last time they were Down Under.
In 2009, the Proteas bagged their first ever test series victory in Australia.
"It does feel slightly different coming to Australia as No 1 because you come with that at the back of your mind," Kallis said.
"But we also come in the knowledge of how hard we had to work to get that success and I don't see any reason why we can't get ourselves into position to win again."
