JOHANNESBURG, March 8: South African cricket received a welcome shot in the arm on Saturday following their early World Cup exit when all-rounder Jacques Kallis committed himself to playing for his country for the foreseeable future.

Kallis had a modest World Cup but scotched rumours that he was about to pursue his career abroad.

Kallis has been linked with several English counties.

Kallis, though, said: “If there has been any talk, it certainly hasn’t reached me.”

He said: “I would hope I have at least a couple of good years at international level left in me, hopefully more.”

With Allan Donald’s retirement from international cricket, Gary Kirsten’s expected retirement from the one-day game and speculation that several other senior players are considering offers from English counties, Kallis’s decision will come as welcome relief. “It was a horrible, disappointing World Cup for all of us but there’s only one way to get over it and that’s by setting new targets and moving forward. I want to be a part of that,” Kallis said.—Reuters