If you were to chalk out a list of ‘unsung’ heroes of the game, the name of Jacques Kallis would undoubtedly feature in the top 2-3. Most of us didn’t watch Sobers play, but have witnessed Kallis’ game and only a few will disagree that he has been the greatest all-rounder the game has seen, atleast in the modern era. 24216 international runs is a figure big enough to put the man into the bracket of ‘legends’, couple that to 546 international wickets and the end product is colossus! About a week ago, Kallis (age 36) registered his highest test score with a quick paced double ton, to suggest the juggernaut is still rolling strong. Inspite of all these facets, Jacques Kallis isn’t spoken of in the same breath as likes of Ponting, Tendulkar etc.
Does this have something to do with him playing the game in the same era as Ponting, Tendulkar et al. or would he have been spoken of in a low-profile manner in some other generation as well? The answer might be a bit of both; inspite of his credentials, he isn't the 'best' batsman or the bowler of his era, but surely the 'best' all-rounder. His name accords well with the clichéd quote, ’Jack of all...’ his cricketing career has indeed been analogous to the quote. His batting profile has been par excellence, but somehow has been in the shadows courtesy the impact Tendulkar’s or Ponting’s stats generate. It would be safe to assume that Kallis could have been the most successful player in some other era, but when cricketers are marked with specialised facets and comparisons are based primarily on stats; Kallis’ all-round ability is looked upon as a combination of two different aspects rather than a single source shining in two different departments. Infact we tend to underrate the utility that Kallis brings to the side with his mere presence. A prolific run-getter at 3/4, a ‘more-than-effective’ first/second change bowler and a safe fielder is what the genius of Kallis has to offer; also speaks volumes about his fitness & endurance, and serves as a lesson for prospective all-rounders.
If you were to study South Africa’s success over the last decade and half, you shouldn’t be surprised to find it parallel to Kallis’ form with the bat & the ball. You wouldn’t associate adjectives like grace, aggression, innovation too frequently with Kallis’ batting but words like solid, formidable, classy associate with his batting style aptly. He may not be as aggressive like a Ponting, graceful like some of his contemporaries, idealistic like a Tendulkar but in his own steady way presents a ‘huge’ obstacle for opposition teams to get over. His bowling isn’t fierce, fast, but comprises of clever use of all-possible variations alongwith consistency to give the captain formidable bowling option. He started off in the same vein as he has been over the years - the ‘looked-up to’ batsman in the line-up and one of the most important bowling options. He has played all 3 forms of the game to justify his potential in each with more than reasonable conviction.
Cricket has traditionally been tilted towards the batsmen, and hence only this aspect of the game is prominently focused and compared across generations. Whenever Kallis retires from the game, his batting will be compared and not the entire package. Sadly that has been his tale over the last 17 years, he has been the most complete player of the modern-era and yet hasn’t received accolades or recognition which his talent deserves. It might be an outlook that people from India & Australia might have about him, as the two countries have produced most of the greatest ‘batsmen’ in different eras. Another aspect to this notion could be that Tendulkar was the first ‘big thing’ in the 90s. Ponting appeared the rebellious batsman who threatened to take the crown away, after Lara retired. Dravid, Ganguly, Inzaman, Jayawardene popped up with a couple of glorious seasons in international cricket. Unlike all those mentioned above, Kallis went about his business quietly, without much fuss and ado. An average of over 57 in tests, 274 scalps in tests, 41 test tons & 180 catches in tests are numbers more-than-sufficient to prove Kallis’ prowess in all the three departments. Kallis has set the bar for the rest of the 'all-rounder' community to emulate, if not better it. Inspite of playing alongside Ponting, Dravid, Tendulkar, Steyn, Lee and others, Kallis has managed to carve a niche, which itself an achievement in itself. Hopefully Kallis is remembered as the player who redefined the way an all-rounder played the modern-day game rather than a batsman who bowled a bit!
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