adminJOHANNESBURG. — Jacques Kallis was never one for displays of emotion or grand speeches. Instead, he preferred to move quietly, even serenely, through an 18-year Test cricket career that established him as arguably the greatest all-rounder of cricket’s modern era.His expressions were mostly concealed by his helmet while batting or by his sunglasses and trademark wide-brimmed sun hat when South Africa was fielding.
On the occasions when he scored one of his 44 test centuries or took one of his nearly-300 wickets before announcing his retirement earlier this week, he would flash his toothy grin in acknowledgement or raise an arm up in celebration.
In interviews, the broad-shouldered all-rounder who could dominate bowlers with seemingly effortless cover drives and bounce out the best batsmen with fierce, heavy short balls was surprisingly soft-spoken.
For much of his career, Kallis was strangely never adored in South Africa the way Sachin Tendulkar was in India or Don Bradman was in Australia. And yet his worth to his country’s Test team over his career has been just as valuable, perhaps more. South Africa will miss him now.
It was Kallis’ introspective approach that probably didn’t always win over the supporters, but his teammates and opponents rated his value as a player and a person as priceless. — AFP.
Online Reporter