All-rounder Kallis to quits Tests after Durban

Durban: Jacques Kallis, No.-1 rounder of his era and a strong contender for the title of greatest all-rounder of all time on Wednesday called time on a remarkable career that saw him amass staggering statistics and propel South Africa to the world no. 1 ranking in Tests.

 

India’s tour of South Africa was originally expected to mark the retirement of Sachin Tendulkar.  Instead, it will see one of his greater contemporaries following him into a cricketing sunset, if only in Tests.

A few months ago, Kallis’s coach had declared that he wanted to play for at least two more years and overtake Tendulkar’s records for most runs and tons in Tests. Given Kallis’s form and fitness at that time, it did not seeem impossible. However, Kallis then suffered a loss of batting form, which may have prompted his decision.

His team members had been informed about Kallis’ decision to quit on Tuesday, but were asked to keep it a secret. “He told us yesterday that he is going to quit It was an emotional moment for all of us,” a member of the South African contingent said, refusing to elaborate.

However, Kallis will still be available for ODIs. “I don’t see it as goodbye because I still have a lot of hunger to push South Africa to that World Cup in 2015, if I am fit and performing,” Kallis said, indicating that his appetite for cricket is still not sated.

Kallis: The finest-ever all-Rounder?

	M	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	Ct	Wkts	Ave
Tests	165	13174	224	55.12	44	58	199	292	32.53
ODIs	325	11574	139	44.86	17	86	129	273	31.79
T20Is	25	666	73	35.05	–	5	7	12	27.75
Intl. cricket	515	25414	224	49.25	61	149	335	577	32.08

Only three others have scored more Test runs than Kallis

Batsman	M	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50
Sachin Tendulkar	200	15921	248*	53.78	51	68
Ricky Ponting	168	13378	257	51.85	41	62
Rahul Dravid	164	13288	270	52.31	36	63

 

Top stars who played their last Test vs India

* Hansie Cronje (Bangalore, 2000)
* Steve Waugh (Sydney, 2004)
* Adam Gilchrist (Adelaide, 2008)
* Muttiah Muralitharan (Galle, 2010)
* Ramnaresh Sarwan (Bridgetown, 2011).

Bureau Report