Jacques Kallis. I must start with him this week.

Four centuries in four tests. 712 runs in the series against the West Indies at an average of 178, taking his career aggregate to 5,486 runs at an average of 53. Not bad, eh?

And he has taken 156 wickets at an average of 30.

Sorry to bore you with all these statistics but they are incredible figures, and as I was watching Jacques rack up that fourth century at Centurion Park last weekend, I couldn't help thinking - "I wonder whether Jacques will ever play for Glamorgan again?"

In case you might have forgotten he has one year of a contract left with the county. His previous appearance for Glamorgan was an all too brief one in 1999, abbreviated by first the World Cup and then a troublesome stomach muscle injury.

But anyone who saw his exhilarating 155 not out in the National League against Surrey at Pontypridd will know what a special person was in our midst. It would be wonderful if he did return some time.

It is thought that in 2005 only one overseas per county will be permitted. Jacques would obviously solve the dilemma of whether to engage a batsman or a bowler, because he is both rolled into one.

But I suspect he may only be able to return when he has retired from international cricket. There is so much of it going on around the world these days that it would be difficult to fit it in otherwise. And if South Africa did have an extended period of rest

I'm not sure that the South African Board would sanction Jacques' return to the 'Diff' as he loves to call our capital city.

At times over the last couple of years he has looked a very tired young man ( or not so young - he is 28 now) - not surprising given the enormous physical strains of being such a top class all-rounder, but since the untimely death of his father last summer he seems much more relaxed, as if that tragedy has given him new perspective on life. Whatever, he is in prime form and for me there was a telling comment from one of the commentators - I think it was Pat Symcox the former South African off spinner - when Jacques reached that century.

Having eulogised about the quality of the knock and Jacques' composure and concentration, he said "and he's a really nice guy". Indeed he is.

Talking of commentators I was shocked this week to hear of the death of David Hookes, the former Australian batsman and commentator, who had been coaching the state side Victoria. For those of you who hadn't caught the news, he died after being involved in a fight outside a hotel, when he and his team had been celebrating a one day win.

He was just 48. He was at his peak as a dashing left handed batsman when I was an impressionable teenager and he was always a joy to watch, having made his test debut in the Centenary Test of 1977 when he hit Tony Greig for five fours in one over.

He then became a most forthright and perceptive commentator whose opinions were always worth listening to.

An issue I have been eyeing with interest is that regarding Nottinghamshire's Kevin Pietersen, who is currently trying to disengage himself from his contract at the Midlands county.

Having tried all the conventional means it now seems to me that he is making a last ditch legal effort by claiming that his captain Jason Gallian broke one of his bats and threw his kit out of the dressing room window after the final game of last season.

It may or may not be true but I know Gallian well and he is a thoroughly decent bloke, and if he did do something like that it would have been as a result of some severe provocation. Pietersen is rapidly developing a reputation for himself throughout the county game.

He is a talented batsman who hits the ball extremely hard but it is generally perceived that he has a little too much to say for himself.

I hope that I am not being clouded in my judgement by my well-known disliking of cricketers who ply their trade over here under EU passports, but at least it seems that the South African-born Pietersen - unlike most others, some of whom have represented other countries many times - is committing himself to playing for England. He will certainly push hard for a place in the England one day squad when he becomes eligible later this year.

But, meanwhile, his dispute with Nottinghamshire seems to be hastening the almost inevitable advent of transfers within county cricket.