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!