By Daniel Lane
Sydney Thunder's marquee recruit, South African cricket great Jacques Kallis, is committed to returning to the franchise in next season's Big Bash League.
While his declaration is a huge boost before the must-win home game against the Melbourne Stars on Saturday night, chief executive Nick Cummins revealed he was still unsure of former Test batsman Michael Hussey's plans.
Hussey has worked tirelessly in conjunction with the Thunder's coaching staff and management to shape the team's culture and Cummins made no secret of the 39-year-old's value to the team.
"Mike is coming off contract," said Cummins. "We're talking to him but I think he's very focused on the next couple of games ... he hasn't made a decision yet. He has a lot of things going on in his life, family and other commitments, but I will state very clearly – and on the record – that Michael Hussey is a required player."
Enjoying himself: South Africa's acques Kallis.Credit: Getty Images
Kallis, 37, had added a new dimension and sharper edge to the vastly improved Thunder. He was man of the match in the two games the men in lime green had won so far this summer, while his behind-the-scenes work with coach Paddy Upton, a fellow South African, only enhanced the reputation of an all-rounder ranked alongside Keith Miller and Sir Garfield Sobers as a genuine great.
"I'm really enjoying it," Kallis said of his summer at the Thunder. "I don't play a hell of a lot of cricket any more so it gives me the opportunity to enjoy whatever I'm doing. It's been a fun environment and that's important to me ... I'll be back next year."
Cummins thought Kallis had revelled the licence to roam that Upton gave him. "Paddy has just let him play," he said. "He hasn't said 'I want you to bat through the innings' he's pretty much said to Jacques 'you know what to do, you've done it all' and I think he's enjoyed that freedom. It's been fantastic having him play here. Australians were obviously aware he's a legend, but they've found out what he's like as a person – and nothing seems a problem. He's probably done more than any other player from the Thunder or the Sixers to promote the Big Bash in Sydney this year and he's done it all with a smile."
Former Australian all-rounder Andrew McDonald, who is expected to return from a hamstring injury for Saturday's must-win match at Spotless Stadium, provided an insight into the impact Kallis had on him and the team. "He's been fantastic since the day he walked in," McDonald said. "He's a pretty calm character, the coolness under pressure that he brings [is great]. He's been great in terms of input into the team, input into the younger players. It's just a real privilege to play with him. Played against him in my four Test matches for Australia, [I] always looked up to him as a younger player, it's just fantastic to be on the same field as him in the same team."
with Nathan Carter