Jacques Kallis is fourth man to reach 13,000 Test runs

Veteran South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis has become the fourth batsman to pass 13,000 Test runs.

The 37-year-old reached the mark with a four through third man off seamer Doug Bracewell after tea in the first Test against New Zealand at Cape Town.

He joins India's Sachin Tendulkar and Raul Dravid, and ex-Australia captain Ricky Ponting in passing the figure.

"I'm probably batting as well as I've ever batted in my career," said Kallis, who was later out for 60.

"Hopefully I can carry on with that form for a little while longer."

Kallis achieved the milestone having played the fewest Tests of the four (159).

However, Tendulkar, who tops the standings with 15,645 runs, managed to reach the 13,000 mark in fewer innings (266 to Kallis's 269).

Cape Town-born Kallis, who celebrated the milestone on his home ground at Newlands, has also taken 282 Test wickets in a 17-year Test career.

Having needed to score 20 to reach the 13,000 figure, he completed his 57th Test fifty in 68 balls, before departing for 60 when he edged seamer Trent Boult to keeper BJ Watling.

"I love playing at Newlands so it was nice that I could get that achievement here," said Kallis.

"The public have been fantastic to me. To get an ovation like that certainly means a lot to me, and these are very special moments that will live with me forever."

Kallis, now on 13,040 runs, may struggle to overtake Tendulkar at the top of the list but, with no thoughts of retiring from Tests, should pass the retired Ponting (13,378) and Dravid (13,288).

"When I feel that I'm not contributing to the team in the way that I think I should be, or holding some youngster up, then I'll definitely start thinking about it (retirement)," he added.

"But that's certainly the furthest thing from my mind at the moment."

Earlier in the day, New Zealand were bowled out for 45 - their third lowest all-time Test score - in only 68 balls, while the Proteas finished day one on 252-3, with Alviro Petersen 103 not out.

Highest run-scorers in Test cricket:

15,645 - Sachin Tendulkar, India (194 Tests) - average 54.32

13,378 - Ricky Ponting, Australia (168) - average 51.85

13,288 - Rahul Dravid, India (164) - average 52.31

13,040 - Jacques Kallis, South Africa (159) - average 56.94

11,953 - Brian Lara, West Indies (131) - average 52.88

11,174 - Allan Border, Australia (156) - average 50.56

10,927 - Steve Waugh, Australia (168) - average 51.06

10,696 - Shivnarine Chanderpaul, West Indies (146) - average 51.67

10,674 - Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka (137)- average 49.41

10,122 - Sunil Gavaskar, India (125) - average 51.12