Happy birthday, Jacques Kallis

To celebrate the 39th birthday of one of the greatest cricketers of all-time, cricket.com.au revisits seven memorable moments of Jacques Kallis’ decorated career.

And keep in mind, King Kallis isn’t completely done yet – the birthday boy will be running out for the Sydney Thunder in this summer’s KFC T20 Big Bash League and blogging exclusively for cricket.com.au.

Test debut

14/12/1995 v England, Durban

Twenty-year-old Jacques Henry Kallis became the 262nd South African to play Test cricket when he was selected for the third Test against England in Durban. Batting at six and entering with his side in trouble at 4-85 following the loss of Daryll Cullinan for 10, his first time at the crease would be a short one, out caught behind off the bowling of right-arm medium pacer Peter Martin for a 12-ball one. The match would end in a draw after a torrential downpour washed out the final two days.

First Test century

26/12/1997 v Australia, Melbourne

Boxing Day 1997. South Africa were set 381 runs to win or 122 overs to survive. Batting at first-drop and walking out in the sixth over with score at 1-1, Kallis dug in. Facing an attack comprising of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Paul Reiffel and Michael Kasprowicz, Kallis batted for six hours to defy the Australians a 1-0 series lead, scoring the first of his 45 Test centuries in the process. Despite falling one run later his efforts would not be in vain with the Proteas holding out for a draw.

All-round assault

2/1/1999 v West Indies, Cape Town

Demonstrating the devastating all-round abilities that would see him compared to West Indies legend Sir Garfield Sobers, Kallis tore the Windies apart in Cape Town in 1999. Batting at his customary first-drop, Kallis strode to the middle to face the second ball of the game, and combined with Daryll Cullinan for 225 runs on his way to 110. He backed it up in the second innings with a defiant 88 not out before ripping through the tourists with five wickets to hand South Africa the match.

One-day wonder

22/11/2006 v India, Durban

Kallis’s love affair with Durban continued against India in the second One-Day International in 2006. Joining Lance Bosman in the second over after captain Graeme Smith departed early for one, the hulking allrounder batted with patience and power, blasting 15 boundaries in his 119 from 160 balls to help the Proteas post 8-248 from 50 overs. He then put an end to India’s run chase with three quick wickets to finish with figures of 3-3 from four overs in, unsurprisingly, a man-of-the-match performance. 

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Twin peaks

1/10/2007 v Pakistan, Karachi

Battling the heat, habitat and the hosts’ hostile bowling attack, Kallis peeled off twin hundreds in South Africa’s commanding 160-run victory over Pakistan in Karachi. His knock of 155 featured 19 fours in five hours at the crease, teaming with current Proteas Test skipper Hashim Amla for a 170-run partnership. After earning a 159-run first innings lead, Kallis patiently compiled another triple-figure total, putting the match beyond doubt with 100 not out to set Pakistan an insurmountable total of 424.

Double-ton of fun

16/12/2010 v India, Centurion

Kallis played 15 years of international cricket before he reached his first Test match double-century, but the wait was well worth it. On a road in Centurion, Kallis, along with Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers, poleaxed India for 130 overs and 620 runs, 201 belonging to the Proteas’ premier allrounder. Upon reaching the milestone, Kallis played a mock golf shot to the player’s balcony, later explaining he’d been promised life membership of the exclusive Leopard Creek golf club in Mpumalanga by billionaire owner Johan Rupert if he ever scored a Test double-hundred.

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Fitting farewell

26/12/2013 v India, Durban

Playing his 166th and final Test at Kingsmead, Kallis ended his spectacular career in perfect fashion. Hiring the same script writer that Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne employed for his finest moments, Kallis posted Test century No.45 from 316 balls, lasting more than six-and-a-half hours to give his side a commanding lead as he did so many times throughout his celebrated 18-year-career. India’s batsmen failed to prevent a crushing 10-wicket win to the hosts, sending off King Kallis with a lap of honour he’ll never forget.

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