Very few men can claim to be as naturally gifted as Sachin Tendulkar, as pleasing on the eye with the bat in hand as Brian Lara, or have the match-winning qualities of Shane Warne. Jacques Kallis wouldn't dare make those claims, but it could be argued that the South African is peerless on the international stage.
The 38-year-old announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket earlier this week, a choice which followed his decision to step away from Tests in December following a superb career for the Proteas.
Kallis made his Test debut 19 years ago against England, but his scratchy form in the early stages of his time in the South African side would soon be forgotten as he went on to write his name in the history books as one of the most consistently brilliant players in the world.
© Getty Images
Looking back on his career, the figures prove what should already be known by everyone. Kallis is, quite simply, one of the greatest players to have ever walked onto a cricket field. The all-rounder played 166 Test matches for the Proteas, averaging 55.37 with the bat and taking 292 wickets to raise the bar for any aspiring Jack of all trades. He also appeared in 328 one-day internationals and 25 Twenty20 matches for his country, with his class still obvious even in the shorter formats of the game.
The importance of Kallis to South African cricket cannot be underestimated. He was the main man in the team during the period of Australian dominance in the early years of the 21st century, and his influence never wavered as the Proteas steadily marched to the top of the international game under the guidance of Graeme Smith.
Smith, thrown into the spotlight as one of the youngest captains in international cricket, is considered one of the most inspirational leaders in the sport, but his job was always made that slightly bit more easier due to the presence of Kallis.
Without ever having the look of the fitness-obsessed modern cricketer, Kallis was always the man who made the difference, and he could often define the role of a 21st century player in one day out on the field. Smith could rely on his teammate to take the key wicket when the match was drifting away from the Proteas, or play the crucial knock just when the side had their back against the wall.
Sixty-two international hundreds in all formats tell their own story. Kallis was able to play the explosive innings to bully the opposition, or the patient, defiant knock needed to save a game. However, it should be his bowling that sets him apart from his rivals. Not since the great Sir Garfield Sobers has the world seen a player combine their skills with both bat and ball so efficiently. Most all-rounders allow one side of their game to take centre stage, but Kallis was often trusted with the newer ball early in the innings, and he rarely slipped below the top four in the batting order after securing his spot in the team.
However, one question remains. Why isn't Kallis considered the greatest player of a generation? A very small number of people seem to pick out the South African when the subject of recent legends of the sport comes up. It is likely down to the players he shared the international stage with during his career.
© Getty Images
Tendulkar enjoys godlike status in India, and rightly so due the number of records he broke during his time out in the middle. Lara's flair may never be seen again. Stories of Ricky Ponting's pull shot will be told for years, Muttiah Muralitharan's ability to bamboozle batsmen is the stuff of legends, and a character such as Warne might never step on the field again, but Kallis had it all.
All of these players are often put ahead of Kallis in the debate of the greatest player in the past 20 years, and each man certainly has the right to be considered a legend, but the Proteas star combined all of their greatest qualities. His stubborn defence with the bat was matched by his ability to entertain crowds with every shot in the book, and there are very few all-rounders who managed to change games as often as he did.
His laid-back persona perhaps keeps him out of the conversation for the greatest of all time for some people. The Cape Town native was often shying away from the limelight, despite his consistent displays, and his modesty is probably what endears him to his millions of supporters in South Africa. However, not many players could match his hunger for the game over such a long period of time, and the Proteas may never find a true replacement.
In truth, Kallis may have fell short of being a global superstar, but there will be no arguments that the international game is poorer now that one of the true greats has stepped off the biggest stage.
Callum Mulvihill
