Jacques Kallis, the legendary South African all-rounder, has been hailed as the “most talented player” ever by former Australian captain Ricky Ponting. Ponting’s admiration stems from Kallis’ exceptional all-round abilities and impressive statistics throughout his illustrious career.
Kallis, who played from 1995 to 2013, amassed 13,289 runs in 166 Test matches, averaging an impressive 55.37. He scored 45 centuries and 58 fifties, solidifying his place as South Africa’s highest Test run-scorer. His highest score of 224 ranks him third globally behind Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar.
As a bowler, Kallis claimed 292 wickets at an average of 32.65, with best figures of 6/54. He took five five-wicket hauls in Tests, making him South Africa’s seventh-highest wicket-taker.
In One-Day Internationals (ODIs), Kallis scored 11,579 runs in 328 matches, averaging 44.36. He hit 17 centuries and 86 fifties, with a top score of 139. He was South Africa’s leading run-scorer in ODIs, ranking eighth globally.
With the ball, Kallis took 273 wickets in ODIs at an average of 31.79, including five-wicket hauls. He stands as South Africa’s second-highest wicket-taker in ODIs, behind Shaun Pollock.
In 25 T20 Internationals, Kallis scored 666 runs at an average of 35.05 and took 12 wickets.
Overall, Kallis scored 25,534 runs in 519 international matches, with 62 centuries and 149 fifties. His 577 wickets across all formats place him among South Africa’s top bowlers.
Despite his remarkable achievements, Ponting believes that Kallis is “one of the most underrated players ever” in cricket. He noted that Kallis’ all-round abilities and impressive statistics should earn him a place among the all-time greats.
