By Martin Gough

Kallis dedicated his opening ton of the five to his late father

Jacques Kallis, a star performer for South Africa for several years, has now taken his game to a fresh level of excellence.

With his unbeaten 150 against New Zealand in Hamilton he became the only man apart from the legendary Sir Donald Bradman to hit five centuries in consecutive Tests.

Bradman went one better - he in fact scored six in a row in a supreme period of form shortly before the War.

Kallis's feat has seen his career batting average soar past 50 - the mark which splits the truly brilliant batsmen from the merely excellent.

And his 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 December 203 Test against West Indies at The Wanderers helped the home side on from good start to unassailable strength at 561 all out to set up victory.

Since his father died he has matured as a player Peter Kirsten

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.

Those two Test tons showed Kallis at his grinding best, taking little account of the standard of the attack - to concentrate on a big total.

Kallis on reaching his fifth consecutive Test ton in Hamilton

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.

At Centurion, in the final Test of that series, he sat in the pavilion a long time as Herschelle Gibbs and Graeme Smith put on one of their spectacular opening partnerships, 301 to be exact.

But Kallis nevertheless hit another unbeaten 130.

Kirsten believes the arrival of 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 change, 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.

KALLIS: FIVE OF THE BEST Dec 2003: 158 v WI, Wanderers Dec 2003: 177 v WI, Durban Jan 2004: 130* v WI, Newlands Jan 2004: 130* v WI, Centurion Mar 2004: 150* v NZ, Hamilton

"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'."

Two batsmen, Rahul Dravid of India and Australia's Matthew Hayden, have managed to score four consecutive tons in the last two years - Hayden against South Africa in 2001/02.

But Kallis is now past them.

And he did it despite being dismissed for 92 in the first innings at Hamilton.

He knew he would have another opportunity in the same match, and he promptly took it with both hands, finishing unbeaten on 150.