Happy Birthday Jacques Kallis: 5 Match-Winning Performances by The Star South African All-Rounder

Former South African all-rounder turns 44 on Wednesday. Born on October 16, 175, the former is regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders to have stepped on the cricket field. Kallis was a phenomenal batsman and an exceptional bowler which makes him a formidable force on the cricket field. The Cape Town-born cricketer had a fantastic record at the highest level. The Proteas all-rounder is the only player to date who has 10,000 plus runs and over 250 wickets in ODIs and Tests. In addition to that, Kallis had a safe pair of hands too as he has grabbed over 100 catches in the two formats.

The stalwart made his international debut in December 1995 and tormented the opposition for almost two decades. Kallis played 166 Tests in his illustrious career in which he scored 13289 runs and scalped 292 wickets. In ODIs, the veteran registered 11579 runs and 273 wickets in 328 appearances. While 25 T20I outings, the all-rounder had 666 runs and 12 numbers. These numbers are remarkable by any standards and any player could boast of them. In his remarkable career, Kallis has displayed many great innings and several match-defining spells. So, on the occasion of Kalli’s 44th birthday, let’s have a look at some of the fabulous performances by the legendary cricketer.

110 & 5/30 Against West Indies in Cape Town

Scoring a century and bagging a five-wicket haul in international cricket is certainly a dream of every cricketer. However, Kallis was one of those players who achieved both the feats in one match. In the fourth Test of West Indies’ 1999 Tour of South Africa, the right-handed batsman mustered a brilliant hundred in the first innings. Kallis’ show in the match wasn’t over as he bagged a fantastic five-fer in the last innings too. The visitors were dented by Kallis’ brilliance and lost the match by 149 runs.

139 & 5/21 Against Bangladesh in Potchefstroom

The veteran was all over the opposition in the second Test of Bangladesh’s 2002 Tour of South Africa. In a pitch where Bangladesh were bundled out for 215 runs in the first innings, Kallis played a stupendous knock and scored a magnificent century. The ton was not the only milestone for Kallis in the match as he bowled a brilliant spell in the last innings and took five wickets. The effort led South Africa to a victory by innings and 160 runs and Kallis was named the Man of the Match.

37 & 5/30 Against West Indies in Dhaka

Kallis was the mainstay behind the rainbow nation’s only ICC trophy. In the finals of the 1998 Champions Trophy or the Knock Out Cup, the veteran delivered an all-round performance and left the opposition awestruck. Bowling first, Kallis rattled the Caribbean batting line-up and his five-fer restricted the Calypso Kings to 245 in the first innings. While chasing, South Africa lost early wickets and lost Kallis came to bat at number five. The latter stitched a crucial partnership with captain Hansie Cronje and brought the innings back to the track. The batsman was dismissed for 37 but guided the Proteas to safety and South Africa eventually won the match by four wickets.

155 & 100 Against Pakistan in Karachi

In the first Test of South Africa’s 2007 Tour of Pakistan, Kallis played not one but two glorious innings. In the first innings of the match, Kallis showed great temperament against the Pakistani bowlers and brought up a sensational hundred – guiding the visitors to 450 in the first innings. Kallis continued his good run in South Africa’s second innings and registered his second ton of the match. The batsman’s twin-centuries proved to crucial as the Proteas won the match by 160 runs.

224 & 3/39 Against Sri Lanka in Capetown

Kallis aged like fine wine and was equally effective in the end part of his career. In the third Test of Sri Lanka’s 2012 Tour of South Africa, the all-rounder scored an outstanding double ton. Batting first, Kallis came into the crease at number four and began his carnage. The batsman scored runs at a rapid pace and demolished the visitors to all the parts of the ground. Courtesy Kallis’ monumental knock, South Africa posted 580 runs in the first innings and later won the match by 160 runs.

In 2014, Kallis brought curtains to his dazzling career and gave a breather to all his oppositions. Over the years, South African cricket have produced many great players like Dale Steyn, Ab de Villiers, Dale Steyn and Hashim Amla but Jacques Kallis stands head and shoulders above any other cricketer. At present, South Africa are facing a rough patch in international cricket and seems like a certain Jacques Kallis might be the only answer.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 16, 2019 09:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).