As I recall.... Boycott used to reckon that you should put your best players to the top of the order... and that anyone wanting to be considered for a Test place ought to make that case by opening for their county and facing the best county bowlers when they have the new ball in their hands.

The flip side is obviously that no 4 is widely regarded as the most pivotal position in any batting order.... as that's where you need the player most capable of changing the course of a game.... well away from the firing line in the opening overs (though early enough to stop the rot if two early wickets go down)... but early enough in the order to ensure adequate support and take the game away from the opposition.

My own inclination would be to use Kallis in between these two positions, in Dravid's role at 3... in the Barrington role... because that will require him to all but open more often than not (as one or other opener is unlikely to see through the first spells in any given match) but leave the no 4 spot available to someone more inclined to stamp their mark on an innings.

I'd be inclined to try Rudolph at 4, Gibbs at 5 and Pollock at 6, ahead of Boucher at 7... with Boje at 8... then Nel, Ntini and Langveldt. Puts a lot of pressure on Rudolph... but I still rate him as the best SA player of his generation and as hugely promising.

Pollock? Could have batted at 5 if he'd focussed on batting instead of bowling: would respond to the responsibility.