Jacques Kallis reckons the once-hapless Sydney Thunder can go from last to first in a single season and win the BBL.
With Kallis on the books, anything’s possible.
Living up to his reputation as cricket’s greatest allrounder since Sir Garfield Sobers, and possibly the greatest ever, the South African legend made a scintillating BBL debut to lead the Thunder to a 56-run win over Brisbane Heat on Sunday night.
Kallis shared a record 160-run first-wicket stand with fellow 39-year-old great Mike Hussey en route to a breathtaking 97 not out off 55 balls before removing the middle stump of Heat opener Dan Christian and capping his dazzling display with a catch.
“To me, he’s the greatest player that ever lived,” said Heat batsman Chris Lynn.
Like thunder and lightning, Kallis and Hussey, who made 96 off 60 deliveries, lit up ANZ Stadium.
The ageless champions cracked 13 sixes and 13 fours between them to leave Thunder fans full of hope after three miserable seasons owning the BBL’s wooden spoon.
“We certainly didn’t come here to make up the numbers,” Kallis said.
“We came here to make a statement in the tournament and, if we get a little bit of luck go our way and carry on the momentum, there’s no reason why we can’t go all the way.”
It was supposed to be Joe Burns’ night, but Kallis and Hussey stole his thunder.
Savouring his dream call-up earlier on Sunday for the Boxing Day Test, the 25-year-old took a back seat with 28 off 23 balls in a losing cause.
He also copped a Dirk Nannes slower ball in the midriff, but said nothing would stop him from making his Test debut for Australia against India at the MCG on Friday.
“(I’m) pretty sore, but I’ll be right,” Burns said.
While it was Nannes who struck Burns, it was fellow quick Gurinder Sandhu who dismissed him and inflicted most of the damage for the Thunder, snaring 3-19 from three overs.
Every Heat bowler was hammered, including former England Ashes hero Andrew Flintoff, also on his BBL debut after more than four years in retirement, save for a few T20 games in England earlier this year.
Flintoff was only given two overs, finishing with 0-25, and was then caught on the boundary for a duck as the match slipped away from the Heat.
Dan Vettori was also out for a duck.
