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Happy Birthday Jacques Kallis: When Proteas Great Outshined Tendulkar And Zaheer Simultaneously

Kallis, one of the greatest all-rounders of world cricket [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/X.Com] Kallis, one of the greatest all-rounders of world cricket [Source: @mufaddal_vohra/X.Com]

Whenever we talk about genuine all-rounders in Test cricket, the first name that comes to everyone's mind is the Proteas great, Jacques Kallis. He could bowl, he could bat and was the most important player in a star-studded South African side.

For almost 15-years, Kallis dominated the longest format of the game, and it would be surprising to note that he didn't start on a positive note, but once the great all-rounder picked up pace, he didn't look back.

Throughout his illustrious career, Kallis performed across continents and won multiple matches for his side. However, there is one astonishing stat which depicts the impact of Kallis on the cricketing world.

At one point in his career, the all-rounder had 12,005 runs in Tests, at an average of 56.90. The average was greater than the god of cricket, Sachin Tendulkar himself, who at that stage averaged 56.02.

Similarly, he almost outnumbered India's premium pace bowler, Zaheer Khan. At one stage, Zaheer at 273 wickets, while Kallis, being an all-rounder had only two wickets less - 271. The stats show the quality Kallis possessed, something which is missing in the modern era.

Jacques Kallis - a historic career unrivalled

Jacques Kallis was the true definition of a 3-D player. In 166 Tests, he amassed 13289 runs, at an average of 55.37, including 45 Test tons. Interestingly, after Sachin Tendulkar (51), he has the most number of Test centuries, which depicts his greatness.

His Test career overshadowed the brilliant ODI career Kallis had. The champion batter played 328 ODI matches, and accumulated 11579 runs, at an average of 44.36, including 17 centuries.

Moreover, the all-rounder had racked up 292 wickets in Tests, with five 5-wicket hauls. In ODIs, the medium pace bowler had scalped 273 wickets, including two fifers.