5 Cricket legends who timed their retirements to perfection

#5 Jacques Kallis

Jacques Kallis: The most complete all-rounder in cricket's rich history

In cricketing dictionary, if we have to define the term “all-Rounder” the answer would start and end with Jacques Kallis. He made his debut against England in the 1995-96 season, but it was in the year 1997 where he made an impact, scoring a valiant 101 against Australia to salvage a draw. After the retirement of Brian McMillan in 1998, he started bowling more and became one of the top all-rounders. Kallis became one of the 4 players in history to score 5 centuries in 5 consecutive Test matches. He also smashed the quickest 50 in Test cricket against Zimbabwe in just 24 balls.

He was a vital cog in a South African unit which didn’t lose an away series from 2006 till his retirement in 2013. He played his last Test match against India in Durban and scored his 45th Test hundred for which he was given a guard of honour by the visitors. He was so consistent with the bat, that his Test average never dipped below 50.

Kallis is the only player in the history of cricket to have achieved the unique double of 10000 runs and 250 wickets in both Tests and ODIs. With 25434 runs @ 49.10 with 62 centuries and 565 wickets in 519 international matches, all his feats will stand the test of time and it makes him arguably cricket’s greatest all-rounder ever.