Smith holds out hope for Kallis
ESPNcricinfo staff
November 26, 2012
Graeme Smith, emboldened by South Africa's backs-to-the-wall draw in the Adelaide Test, offered a fleeting possibility that Jacques Kallis might yet recover from hamstring trouble enough to play in the final test in Perth
"Those things need to be assessed in the next few days," he said. "He hasn't played too much of a part in the game besides the batting, which has been a terrific part. But there are a full five days in Perth we hope to have him there for and our medical staff are working hard with him."
South Africa, four down at the start of the final day, held out at 8 for 248 with Faf du Plessis holding firm for an unbeaten 110 on Test debut, a marathon rearguard action which spanned 376 balls.
"I guess you have the feeling that the writing is on the wall," Smith admitted, "but in every team you have a little bit of a hope. I have been on both sides of the fence. I have seen us get through games and we have been the team trying to bowl people out on the last day. I woke up this morning and I knew there were still some terrific cricketers to play a part in this game and it shone through.
"It was immense from Faf. Mentally and emotionally to perform like he did and never just to be satisfied with what he had achieved on his debut and still want more was terrific. There were some great performances from Australia which put us on the back foot on Day 1. We had to scrap for five days and we know we have been far from our best but we are still here."
