Mark Smit
1 December 2008
Johannesburg — FORMER South African opening batsman and top batting coach Jimmy Cook said yesterday Jacques Kallis's batting issues needed to be sorted out as a matter of urgency.
He also asked why SA were going to Australia on such a vital tour without a specialist batting coach.
Cook, who has stepped in to help South African captain Graeme Smith on occasions with his batting, pointed out that the team always travelled with a bowling coach - Vincent Barnes - but not with a specialist batting coach.
He said he had spotted a couple of small things in the technique of Kallis. "I mentioned them to Jacques and he acknowledged them. I was in England when they toured there last winter and I spoke to him in Worcester. He agreed with what I said.
"There are small things," said Cook, "like the alignment of his shoulders, foot movements and so on. They are not major but they can cause problems.
"Herschelle Gibbs is a perfect example. His hands have always been so good. People say he didn't ever use his feet but he used to use them a lot more than they think. Now, as he has got older, his feet haven't been moving much at all, and with his reflexes slowing and his hand-eye co-ordination not as good as it was, he has been getting found out.
"This is why I think there should be a specialist batting coach travelling with them all the time -- to pick up little things like that as they happen.
"Jacques is working with Duncan Fletcher -- who was his mentor when he was still getting into the big time -- at the moment so I don't want to get too involved. If Duncan can sort him out that's fine, but he needs to be sorted out before they get to Australia.
"But there must be a specialist batting coach with them. What happens if something goes wrong in Australia?" he asked.
"Graeme had a dreadful time on the last tour of Australia but there was no one there to help him. When he came home he came to see me. We had a chat and he went out and made 60 in a Twenty20 game and then 80 in a one-day game.
"But why did he have to wait three months to get specialist help?
"I have wanted to get involved for years helping with the batting and Mickey Arthur (the national coach) said two years ago I was his number one guy. But nothing has happened.
"There needs to be a batting coach in the staff. Mickey can't be watching the game and be in the nets at the same time. He needs to have an extra body to go and deal with these things, and I would love to be involved.
"I don't know exactly what Duncan's role is. If it's a strategic one, to help with ways of beating Australia, that's fine. If he's doubling as a batting coach I don't know. But I have always wondered why there should be a specialist for bowlers but not for batsmen.
"Cricket SA have said they want to take a totally professional approach to the Australian tour, but is travelling without a specialised batting coach professional?
"As far as Jacques is concerned, he is a fantastic batsman and I would use him as a role model for any kinds. Sometimes it is not so much technical issues that need attention but mental focus. He has gone back to a guy who has been involved with him for years, which is understandable.
"That's why Graeme comes to me. I was involved with him at school and just after. Sometimes they just need to be with someone they trust, just to get their focus back."
Cook warned, however, that if Kallis carried his small technical difficulties with him to Australia, it would not be long before the Australian bowlers latched on to them and exploited them.
"All the other issues are beside the point at this stage, really. Getting Jacques sorted out is the top priority," Cook said.
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