Latest News – Sanjay's Cricket World

South African all rounder became the 5th highest run scorer in test matches as he scored an unbeaten 53 against Pakistan in the first test.

He becomes the first South African to move into the top 5, and is just 528 runs behind India’s Rahul Dravid who is 4th.

Sachin Tendulkar leads the way with 14292, possibly never to be eclipsed from top spot. Tendulkar has the best average, but Kallis is second out of the top 18.

You also have to go down to 19th on the list to find the next genuine all-rounder (Sir Gary Sobers), which highlights how remarkable Kallis’ achievements have been.

Kallis 1071 runs behind Ponting in second place, but don’t bet against him moving into the top 3 before too long!

Full list of top run scorers in tests

Jacques Kallis produced a defiant innings on his home ground at Newlands to ensure South Africa remain a chance in the 3rd test.

England won a crucial toss and had the use of humid conditions and a mottled coloured pitch after some early rain. Batting was always going to be difficult first up, and James Anderson produced a great first spell, claiming Ashwell Prince with a swinging delivery in the first over. Graeme Onions then caught the edge of Graeme Smith’s bat in the next over, but Graeme Swann spilt an easy catch.

South Africa were in early trouble, and Smith and Amla steadied the ship temporarily. I was pleased to see Smith trying to plat positively as it’s the only way to put pressure back on the bowlers.

Amla went LBW as again he got caught trying to play around a delivery because his feet move accross the pitch. Smith and Kallis too the Proteas to lunch, but Smith went almost straight after the resumption.

de Villiers looked quite scratchy and got out to a poor shot to short mid-wicket and JP Duminy got a second consecutive golden duck, although he was unlucky to receive a great ball first up from Graeme Swann who got nice turn and bounce.

Kallis remained the rock of the South African innings and together with another fighter in Mark Boucher produced an important 6th wicket partnership after the Proteas were 127/5. South Africa were in trouble again when  Boucher left at 216/6, but Dale Steyn batted well to support Kallis.

At 279/6 the match is firmly in the balance. The new ball is only 3 overs old, and could hold the key. If England strike early they will have the advantage, but if Kallis and Steyn can see off the new ball, they could get South Africa above 350.

Days 2 and 3 will be good for batting, so South Africa need as many runs as possible otherwise a repeat of Durban could eventuate.

King Kallis holds the key. His 33rd test Century was a splendid innings. He always looked in control, well balanced and put the bad balls away.

English fast bowler James Anderson said Kallis was one of the most difficult batsmen in Test cricket to bowl to. “He’s very focussed when he bats.  The lateness that he plays the ball is incredible – even when the ball’s reversing, he can pick it, which makes it hard for the bowler.”

Kallis now moves into 5th place on the all time centurymakers list, behind Sunil Gavaskar and Brian Lara (34), Ricky Ponting (39) and Sachin Tendulkar (43). Unfortunately he has often come out to bat in a similar position and struggles to get going again on a second day of batting. If he can see off the new ball and get himself ‘in’ again, that elusive double century may just come to fruition.

There wouldn’t be a better ground for Kallis to achieve it on. He averages 70 at Newlands, and this was his thrid consecutive century against the English at this ground. I can’t wait for day 2, there has never been a better chance for Kallis to cash in and get his first double hundred!

Jacque Kallis ended the decade (2009-2009) with the highest batting average in test match cricket.

His average was 58.70, and was followed by Australian Captain Ricky Ponting with 58.38 and Pakistani Captain Mohammad Yousuf with 58.53.

In terms of total number of runs, Kallis (8630 with 27 centuries and 42 fifties) was second to Ponting (9458 with 27 centuries and 42 fifties).

Kallis is such a consistent performer and considering he rarely makes big hundreds (he has yet to score a double century in test match cricket), his average is testament to how consistently he scores.

If there is one criticism I do have of the most elegant batsmen to watch, it is that he does not ‘win” enough games for his side. Like Sachin Tendulkar who has a wonderful record, when the chips are down, and runs are needed under pressure, your best batsmen should see you home. Perhaps that is where Ponting has the edge over Kallis.

With the Proteas needing some massive momentum shifts ahead of the third test against England, the opportunity is there for Kallis to mark his mark in the next decade as a matchwinner rather than simply a record maker.

In the test bowling stakes Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka led the way with 565 wickets, and South Africa’s Makhaya Ntini was second with 380. With both bowlers nearing the ends of their careers, the new decade is going to see some new record makers.

My pick would be Dale Steyn to lead the way. He is a wonderful bowler with a great record so early in his career. If he remains fit, the records could be his for the taking, Pakistan’s Mohammed Aamer at 17 could be another to watch for, but the Pakistanis have a habit of being inconsistent in the selections which may hamper him.

Jacques only requires another 12 runs in test cricket and already has 250 wickets. In the one day format he is only 16 runs away and requires 4 wickets. He will definitely get the runs in the next one dayer but may require the rest of the series to get the 4 wickets. It will be a remarkable achievement for a player who is one of the all time greats (well in my view anyway). I don?t think you?ll see a more technically correct, eloquent batsmen, whilst his bowling seems to do just what is required when the situation demands it. He possesses good change up deliveries, but can also produce good swing or pace when required also.

To put his performances in perspective, Ricky Ponting has only just passed 10000 test runs at a similar average, whilst he has 12000 one day runs at a slightly inferior average. These 2 players have played a similar number of games and started their careers at around the same time. As a bastmen Kallis is the equal of the best in the world, over the course of history. Add to that his wonderful bowling achievements (requiring practice, mental stress and increased likelihood of injury) over a prolonged period of time and one can see the enormous value Kallis has to South African cricket. He has been the rock of the SA batting lineup for a decade, and has been invaluable as a 3rd or 4th bowler.

If there is one criticism (and some are calling for his omission from the SA one day team) of Kallis it is his slow batting rate, more so in the limited overs format. I would certainly not be dropping him. He has shown the ability to score quickly on occasion, so I would be working more on the mental approach. That other observation I have made of Kallis is that although he is super consistent and never really plays badly, he rarely takes a game by the scruff of the neck and closes it out/wins it. (It is the same reason I think Tendulkar is overrated and not an all time great). It is indeed a pity Kallis doesn?t have a test double hundred, or a big one day hundred. Which makes his averages even more remarkable. He doesn?t score big, but he gets a decent score almost all the time. With greater self-belief and a more dynamic approach I hope to see Kallis destroy attacks and allow SA to show why we are the greatest team of all!