Jacques Kallis - The man who did it all

Kallis inspired an entire nation

A living legend, atop all the charts for South Africa and possibly the finest all-rounder of this generation. There are no words enough to describe his greatness as a sports-person. A huge, broad-shouldered man whose presence stirred calm in some and fear in others.

Kallis is a batsman who had a rock-solid technique and a mind impervious to interference. No batsman prices his wicket more highly and no wicket in all of cricket is more highly prized. The last 2 decades will go down in cricket as the Age of Tendulkar, But Kallis rests the title of being the most valuable player in the game. He has always been one of the top three or four batsmen. A maiden Test century against the Aussies in a match saving effort on the 5th day at Melbourne revealed to the world the greatest cricketer of all times.

South African cricket was not only blessed with a world-class batsman, but his bowling was a luxury to the side. Sharing the new-ball with greats like Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock, he would tie down one end for the others to reap the benefits. Although his bowling diminished with every playing season, but his accuracy and wicket taking ability made him an asset.

South Africans are the best fielding side in the game even today. Kallis was also a cracking fielder of rattle snake reflexes. In the slips with his giant hands he would make impossible chances look regulation. With 192 catches to his credit and innumerable runs saved, his repute and record is unsurpassable.

Retirement ahead of the 2015 World Cup

On the 30th of December 2013, the great man decided to quit Test Cricket after scoring a match winning century against the Indians, a fitting end to a prolific career. He quit Test Cricket in order to prolong his ODI career in order to fulfil his wish of playing the 2015 World Cup.

But on the 12^th of July 2014, the world saw him for the last time on the international stage, as he declared his ODI retirement after the 3rd match of South Africa’s series against the Sri Lankans. His journey of 18 years at the pinnacle of sports had come to an end.

Today it has left a great void not only in the South African squad but also in world cricket in general. Cricket South Africa has been handicapped with no replacement for this gigantic performer. His shoes can never be filled, but he will continue inspiring the young cricketers.

With probably a bit more support, he could have won more matches for South Africa, and quite possibly even a World Cup trophy which has always eluded them.

I am tempted to call him the Tendulkar of RSA, even so, he may have been a “more valuable” player than Sachin. The positive impact he has had in the development of the South African squad is precious. Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers who have played around Kallis are at present the best batsmen playing the game. This in turn had aided Kallis to play more liberally in the last few years of his international career.

He will be missed, even more due the lack of genuine all-rounders in the game today. We can only wish that the likes of Faulkner, Stokes and the others to be half as effective and valuable as him. But there will be only one, Jacques Kallis. “The Greatest Cricketer Ever!”