Jacques Kallis

Profile

Undoubtedly, Jacques Kallis remains the most complete all-rounder of his time. No other player has fused batting and bowling ability and consistently performed for a decade and a half’s stretch in multiple forms of the game as Kallis has. Perhaps not being the most spectacular of players who provides eye candy innings, unfailing effort and grit being building blocks, often renders him an unsung hero.

Initiated as a batsman, Kallis made the first of his many tenacious hundreds by scoring 101 to save the match for South Africa against Australia in 1997 after being forced to follow on. It gave all sneak peeks of what would later be typical of Kallis, a high stance with the bat raise and ready as can be to decide the fate of the ball. His trademark cover drive over the top and the glance towards square leg would be two glamorous fixtures in his repertoire. With the cherry in hand, a 5/30 in the 1998 Knock Out trophy final helped South Africa beat West Indies and clinch glory.

Kallis remained a permanent member of the South African team, through hard times surrounding match-fixing and poor display at home in the World Cup. More significantly, Kallis has been the backbone of sides which rebuilt under Shaun Pollock and Graeme Smith and carried their ascendency towards the top, chasing record scores and scalping series wins in previously unsettling conditions. All-rounders such as Brian McMillan and Lance Klusener remained in and out of the side but it was only Kallis whose dependability with bat and ball handed a prolonged stint in the side. His batting average was among the best in the game despite a blip in 2008, while he had respectable bowling figures notching a wicket a match. In Tests, Kallis has recorded centuries against every side, including one each on foreign soil.

Fast Facts

• Along with Don Bradman, Mohammad Yousuf and Gautam Gambhir, Jacques Kallis became the only other batsman to score centuries in 5 consecutive Tests.
• Kallis was named ICC Test Player as well as Player of the Year in 2005 and was also Wisden’s Leading Cricketer in 2007.

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Career

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