South African legend to be given until last minute to prove he's better than a 50-50 proposition
Thunder prepared to gamble with Kallis
Sydney Thunder are prepared to gamble with an 80 per cent fit Jacques Kallis in Thursday's KFC Big Bash League semi-final against Adelaide Strikers.
Kallis missed the Thunder's last game against the Sydney Sixers with a groin issue but captain Mike Hussey says the South African star will travel with the team to Adelaide and be given to the last minute to prove his fitness.
"If it's 50-50, it's a pretty big gamble but if it gets up to 80 per cent, it's definitely a gamble worth taking because obviously he offers the team so much balance and so much class and experience," Hussey said on Tuesday.
He was delighted to welcome back batsman Usman Khawaja who has scored 109 not out and 62 in his only BBL innings this season.
"(It's) a huge boost, a fantastic player in supreme form at the moment," Hussey said.
"But also a great character to have around the team, a fantastic sense of humour."
Hussey said a confident Shane Watson was crucial to Thunder, with the talented allrounder back in form with quickfire successive half centuries after a slow start to his campaign.
"Even though he wasn't quite getting the results he or we would have liked at the start, I knew it was coming, just the way he was hitting the ball," Hussey said.
He doubted a thumping seven-wicket home win over Adelaide would give Thunder any psychological advantage going into Thursday's game.
"Complete different conditions, Spotless Stadium was a tough track for batting whereas Adelaide Oval is normally a beautiful track," Hussey said.
He suggested a BBL title might rank among the highlights of his glorious career, the Australian leg of which will almost certainly end after this season's BBL.
Hussey will remain involved with the club in a list management capacity and described his time as a Thunder player as challenging and enjoyable.
"It was a really tough decision to make to come here, it as a really agonising decision," Hussey said.
"But I'm really glad I have because I've learnt so much about myself as a person."