Kallis should get due recognition for being Africa's best batsman ever, says former SA skipper Bacher
Kallis should get due recognition for being Africa's best batsman ever, says formeru00a0SA skipper Bacher |
| South Africa's Jacques Kallis pulls a delivery to the boundary during Day One of the third Test match between South Africa and India at Newlands Stadium on January 02 in Cape Town, South Africa. PIC/Getty images |
Jacques Kallis weathered the storm for the umpteenth time in his career to put hosts South Africa firmly in control of the third and decisive Test match at Newlands yesterday. Kallis, suffering from a severe rib injury that restricted his movement and caused relentless pain, battled in dehydrating weather, to rough it out and complete his 40th Test century, effectively ruining India's hopes of a historic Test series win on South African soil.
Big off-breaksIf batting conditions were harsh on Tuesday, they only gotu00a0 worse yesterday, with Harbhajan Singh (7-120) landing his big off-breaks on the rough created by Zaheer's follow through. At one juncture, South Africa were reeling at 130-6, until Mark Boucher and Kallis, added a potential match-winning stand of 103 runs. South Africa were eventually bowled out for 341 at stumps, setting India a target of 340 on the final day.
While on 33, Kallis looked to get down the track to Harbhajan, but had to stop his movement and tackle the prodigious bounce by taking the bottom hand off the bat. A few seconds later, the inspirational all-rounder was sitting on the ground in pain. He needed time with the physio before he could resume. All through his remarkable effort, the vivacious crowd kept egging on their local hero.
Kallis was stretching and bending again, having steered an Ishant Sharma delivery to third-man for a single to reach 99.
Best everDr Ali Bacher, South Africa's last captain before the country went into exile in 1970, spoke to MiD DAY soon after Kallis became only the second batsman after Sachin Tendulkar to reach 40 Test centuries. "There's a big debate at the moment about who is our greatest-ever batsman. Three names come to mind ufffd Barry Richards, Graeme Pollock and Kallis. From the technique point-of-view, Colin Cowdrey was always the best in my book because I played cricket in the 1960s. But I have changed my opinion. Now, I can proudly say Kallis is the most technically sound batsman I have ever seen," said Bacher. According to him,u00a0 just like VVS Laxman, Kallis never got the due recognition for his greatness, and for the sheer number of influential knocks he has played in his celebrated 145-Test match career.
"Kallis has only recently been recognised for his greatness. It amuses me why, maybe because he isn't an extrovert, never cared about publicity. He believes in just getting on with the game. Now, people will finally acknowledge that not only is he one of our greatest batsmen, but also the finest cricketer since readmission," he added.
Recalling Kallis' first Test ton, Bacher said his greatest strength is that he never shows emotions. "His first Test hundred was at the MCG, I was there to witness it. The Aussies were sledging him ruthlessly, and Kallis decided to shut his ears. Michael Kasprowicz sledged him after every ball. The ground was empty, Kasper bowled him a bouncer, and once again, Kallis turned his back. At that instance, Kasper screamed 'is this guy bloody deaf'.
Everyone at the ground, including those in the press box, heard it," said Bacher.
Go on and onHe reckons Kallis can play on for many more years, and potentially break every record there is in Test cricket.
"As an all-rounder, his stats in Test cricket are comparable to the great Sir Garfield Sobers.
"His stats are better than the likes of Richard Hadlee, Imran Khan and Kapil Dev. Physically, he's in better shape than I've ever seen. He can score many more hundreds," added Bacher.
"Also, he never got any bad publicity and is the most likeable guy in our cricket team," he concluded.
