IT IS no surprise to see Jacques Kallis starring for South Africa, but he has taken his game to a new level against West Indies.
Should he score a century in this weekend's fourth Test, Kallis would become only the 10th player to reach three figures in four consecutive Test matches.
The performance has taken his career batting average past 50 - the mark which splits the great from the other-worldly.
And Kallis's provincial coach, former Test batsman Peter Kirsten, believes the increase in production has come because of a greater hunger after the events of the last year.
Kallis's 158 in the opening Test at The Wanderers helped the home side on from a good start to unassailable strength at 561 all out to set up victory.
On reaching three figures he looked to the sky, commemorating father Henry, who died last July after a long illness.
Kirsten, who coaches Western Province, has seen a more mature, motivated Kallis this season.
"He has a hungrier attitude after a period of introspection," he told BBC Sport.
"He has always been technically one of the best in the world but he has been training very well this year and I'm not surprised to see those scores on the board."
With Gary Kirsten (Peter's half-brother), Kallis shared a South African record fourth-wicket partnership of 249 in the second Test, making 177 himself, to set up South Africa's second-best score ever.
West Indies were bowled out 65 runs away from making the hosts bat again.
Those two Test tons showed Kallis at his grinding best, taking little account of the standard of the attack - and the West Indies were woeful at times - to concentrate on a big total.
But with time running out on his home ground at Newlands, he abandoned his usual model to crash five sixes in an unbeaten 130 in the third Test.
However, South Africa could only take five wickets in West Indies' second innings and the match was drawn. Kirsten believes the arrival of Graeme Smith as captain has provided further motivation to a group of veteran players, Kallis included.
He says: "Since 1998 (when West Indies last toured) there has been a lot of changes, from the Hansie Cronje affair to changes in coaches and selectors then Shaun Pollock's replacement as captain.
"That can sap the motivation at times."
Smith replaced Pollock after a disappointing World Cup showing, leading the side to an emotional drawn Test series in England.
And the skipper led from the front with double centuries in the first two Tests as South Africa dominated early.
“Smith has a never-say-die attitude and a lot of energy and what he did in England provided a bit of a kick to other players,” says Kirsten.
“People like Jacques and Mark Boucher said ‘It’s time to get going’.”
Kallis will start on nought at centurion park this weekend, but his current form - he averages 116.4 per innings in the series so far - suggests he could make a fourth successive ton.
Two batsmen - Rahul Dravid of India and Australia’s Matthew Hayden - have managed the feat in the last two years, Hayden against South Africa in 2001/02.
Only Sir Donald Bradman has hit more consecutive tons.
And when New Zealand study the stats before South Africa's arrival in March, they will notice the Australian legend went on to make six. (BBC Sport).
BATTING ELITE
Batsmen with 100s in four consecutive matches:
DG Bradman (Aus; three times), JHW Fingleton (Aus), CL Walcott (WI), ED Weekes (WI), RN Harvey (Aus), KF Barrington (Eng; twice), SM Gavaskar (Ind), ML Hayden (Aus), R Dravid (Ind)
Most consecutive matches with 100s:
6 - DG Bradman, Aus v England, Melbourne 1936/37 to Headingley 1938.