Cape Town – Proteas middle-order batsman Temba Bavuma says Jacques Kallis has had a positive impact in the South African change room.

Former Proteas great Kallis was recently appointed as the team’s batting consultant for the duration of the summer.

Leading up to the three-match Test series against England, Bavuma revealed players are eager to impress the legendary all-rounder.

“Having Jacques around has already raised our game,” Bavuma told the Telegraph.

“We want to impress him. Sometimes a person labelled as a genius struggles to articulate their message. Jacques keeps things simple. He knows which buttons to push. I’m so excited to learn from him.”

Kallis played 166 Tests, 328 ODIs and 25 T20Is for the Proteas between 1995-2014.

READ | Kallis: Proteas will look to target under-fire Root

Bavuma is currently injured and has been ruled out of the first Test against England at Centurion after sustaining a muscle strain.

The 29-year-old has had a dismal 2019 – only managing 258 runs in his 13 Test innings at an average of 19.84.

Bavuma believes that if he can convert some of his fifties to centuries, his statistics would tell a different story.

“I’m seen as a gritty player; the guy who can walk in with the score at 50 for four and dig the team out of a hole,” said Bavuma.

“But from a personal perspective, I want to score those match-turning hundreds. If I’d managed to convert even half of those fifties, the story would be different.”

The first ball of the first Test at Centurion on Thursday is due to be delivered at 10:00.

Proteas Test squad:

Faf du Plessis (Titans, captain), Temba Bavuma (Lions), Quinton de Kock (Titans), Dean Elgar (Titans), Beuran Hendricks (Lions), Keshav Maharaj (Dolphins), Pieter Malan (Cape Cobras), Aiden Markram (Titans), Zubayr Hamza (Cape Cobras), Anrich Nortje (Warriors), Dane Paterson (Cape Cobras), Andile Phehlukwayo (Dolphins), Vernon Philander (Cape Cobras), Dwaine Pretorius (Lions), Kagiso Rabada (Lions), Rudi Second (Warriors), Rassie van der Dussen (Lions)

Management:

Mark Boucher (head coach), Enoch Nkwe (assistant coach), Khomotso Masubelele (team manager), Justin Ontong (fielding coach), Tumi Masekela (strength and conditioning coach), Craig Govender (physiotherapist), Prasanna Agoram (performance analyst), Sipokazi Sokanyile (media manager), Zunaid Wadee (security manager), Jacques Kallis (batting consultant), Charl Langeveldt (bowling consultant)

– Compiled by Lynn Butler