South Africa's Kallis to quit tests after Durban match

(Reuters) - South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis will retire from test and first-class cricket after the Boxing Day test against India in Durban, the country's cricket board said on Wednesday.

Kallis, cricket's fourth highest test run-getter, would be available, however, for selection in the limited-over formats, Cricket South Africa said in a statement.

"It's been an honour and a privilege to have been part of the South African test team since making my debut 18 years ago," said the 38-year-old, who has amassed 13174 runs and taken 292 wickets from 165 tests.

"I have enjoyed every moment out in the middle but I just feel that the time is right to hang up my test whites," said the all-rounder who has also accumulated 11574 runs from 325 one-day internationals.

"It wasn't an easy decision to come to, especially with Australia around the corner and the success this team is enjoying, but I feel that I have made my contribution in this format."

After the first test ended in a draw, world number one Proteas take on India in the second and final test on Thursday.

They will host Australia for three tests and as many Twenty20 internationals in a series starting in February.

(Writing by Sudipto Ganguly; editing by Amlan Chakraborty)

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India win toss and bat in Kallis' final test

DURBAN (Reuters) - India have won the toss and elected to bat first in the second test against South Africa which is also Jacques Kallis' last match in this format.

Kallis made his test debut on this day against England in Durban in 1995 and his decision to end it at this ground 166 matches later will make it an emotional occasion for the entire team.

"It's been an emotional few days, we hope that he gets celebrated in the next five days and we can really put in the performance that is fitting for the man who has done so much for South African cricket," South Africa captain Graeme Smith said at the toss.

Fast bowler Morne Morkel has made what Smith describes as a miraculous recovery from an ankle ligament strain which saw him bowl just two overs in India's second innings in the first test in Johannesburg that finished on Sunday.

"Morne is fit, it is a miracle really. I honestly didn't think he would have a chance. He has come through extremely ready well," Smith said, before admitting he too would have batted first.

Robin Peterson replaced Imran Tahir as South Africa's main spinning option.

India made once change, dropping spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and replacing him with slow left-arm bowler Ravindra Jadeja, whose 27 test wickets have come at an average of 19.

"The wicket looks good, slightly on the dry side, but it will have pace and bounce for the fast bowlers," India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said.

Teams:

South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, JP Duminy, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel.

India: Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, MS Dhoni (captain), Ravindra Jadeja, Zaheer Khan, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma.

(Reporting by Nick Said; editing by Amlan Chakraborty)

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