Jacques Kallis: South Africa’s explosive all-rounder
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757’s Jacques Kallis is considered to be one of the best all-rounders in cricket today. His phenomenal batting technique, useful medium pace bowling and steady temperament is setting milestones for generation to come. Kallis is a vital component
for the Proteas’ formula for the ICC World Cup 2011. His commanding performance with both the bat and the ball has earned him the respect and admiration of many top players in the world of cricket.
Kallis embarked on his Test journey in 1995 against England at Durban. He has played 145 matches, scored 11947 runs at an excellent average of 57.43 runs, with a highest of an unbeaten 201 runs with 40 centuries and 54 fifties. Kallis converts his fifties
into hundreds more effectively as compared to the other batsmen in Test cricket. He has taken 270 wickets at an average of 32.01 with the best of 6 for 54 in an innings and 9 for 92 in a match.
The South African all-rounder made his debut in One Day International cricket against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c749 in 1996 at Cape Town. He has played 307 matches and scored 11002 runs at a healthy average of 45.84 runs, with a best of 139 runs with 17 centuries and 80 fifties.
He has taken 259 wickets at an average of 31.90 with the best of 5 for 30 runs. Kallis’ magnificent ODI career has played a huge part in the Proteas’ dominance over the past few years.
Kallis has appeared in 16 T20 games and scored 512 runs at an average of 34.13 runs, a best of 73 runs with four fifties. He has taken 5 wickets at an average of 45.80 with a best of 2 for 20 runs.
He is an important member of the Proteas side in Test and One Day International cricket, as he has played T20 cricket for his country as well, but he has been kept away from this form of cricket since 2010. He is the most demanded all-rounder across the
globe, as far as professional cricket is concerned, as different counties and leagues follow him for his availability.
Kallis is the only Cricketer in Test history to score 11000 runs and grab 270 wickets. He is the most dependable and delicate player on the cricket field, as he has smashed 40 Test centuries and is only second highest after Sachin Tendulkar. Kallis stands
among the best batsmen of the world like Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rahul-c83321 Dravid, Brian Lara, Vivian Richards and many more. He is a run machine for South Africa, as he has scored five centuries in four tests from October- December of 2007.
The South African suffered a neck injury while playing a league match in 2010, but recovered soon and came back to the cricket fields again. He was labeled as a slow scorer in 2007 World Cup, but he has changed his gears after that and can bat according
to the situation now.
Kallis has been honoured with many awards in recognition of the excellence shown in the game. Some of these awards include the ICC Test Player of the Year 2005, ICC Player of the Year 2005 and the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World 2007 to mention a few.
The South African has placed his name and fame in the cricket history books through the many achievements he has earned. He scored heavily in the 2007 World Cup and the South Africans will hope that he can carry that same competitive spirit in this year’s
tournament. Kallis will be in the spot-light as he tries to guide the Proteas into achieving the ultimate goal of lifting the coveted trophy.
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