ARUNDEL, July 19: Jacques Kallis could still play in South Africa’s first Test against England at Edgbaston on Thursday even if he arrives back in the country just 24 hours before the game.

All-rounder Kallis, 27 is currently staying at home in Cape Town with his critically ill father Henry, who has lung cancer.

He was given compassionate leave from the tour by the team management after scoring 329 runs in the triangular one-day series. And team spokesman Gerald de Kock insisted on Saturday there was no pressure on Kallis to come back.

“There’s no expectation about when he’s going to return,” de Kock said at Arundel where South Africa were playing India ‘A’ in their final warm-up match ahead of the five Test series against England.

“There’s an opportunity for him to come back as late as Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning. But there’s no pressure on him to come.”

Shaun Pollock was playing against India ‘A’ just 24 hours after arriving back from South Africa where he’d been visiting his pregnant wife Tricia and de Kock added: “I don’t think it would be a problem for Jacques to play. “Shaun’s come back and, I know it’s not a Test match, he’s playing here having been on an overnight flight.”

Kallis missed South Africa’s tour of Bangladesh to spend more time with his 65-year-old father and if he did not play at Edgbaston his place would most likely be taken by specialist batsman Boeta Dippenaar.—AFP