The men who will matter: Jacques Kallis

When it comes to all-rounders in the game, Jacques Kallis rates very highly and is probably the most consistent of them all.

When it comes to all-rounders in the game, Jacques Kallis rates very highly and is probably the most consistent of them all. He is extremely competitive with bat or ball in hand and he is an efficient slips fielder. The powerfully built South African has a presence at the batting crease.

He looks to be in control and he has the concentration, technique, stroke play, the shots and the desire to occupy the crease and score runs. He is the backbone of the South African batting line-up.

Kallis is rated behind Jayasuriya and Yousuf Youhana as the number three batsman in one-day cricket by Price Waterhouse. He is nearing 6,000 runs at a very healthy average of 44 which is up there with some of the best players in the world - only Gary Kirsten and Jonty Rhodes have scored more runs for South Africa.

Kallis has scored eight hundreds and 42 fifties. He has an excellent strike rate of 70 that is very impressive for a top order batsman -- he bats for long periods and most of the innings to ensure that his team gets very competitive scores that are more often than not, match winning ones.

During the 1999 World Cup Kallis scored 312 runs at an average of 52, with a highest score of 96. He is capable of scoring many more during World Cup 2003.

Kallis is a very useful fast medium bowler with a strong action. He has the ability to bowl outswingers and get wickets - he has captured 164 wickets at an average of 29.73 with a best bowling performance of 5/30.

South Africa are blessed with several high quality and potential match winning all-rounders that allows the team to have superb balance and options for the captain, Shaun Pollock.

Pollock and Kallis have the potential to perform heroic deeds for South Africa during this tournament as Lance Klusener did in England in 1999.

The home advantage gives them an added incentive. (GE Features)