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[procricket]

Big fat no from me Botham was destructive but he would not have a career as a batsman alone.

[FvanN]

A very good batsman, but not a great all rounder, certainly not in the class of Ian Botham or Gary Sobers. To me, an all rounder is someone who was worth his place in the team as both a batsman and a bowler. Only 5 5 wicket hauls in 165 tests was not someone worth his place in the team as a bowler. He was a batsman who bowled a bit.

You have got to be joking 

[Bulldog Cricket]

I tend to agree Dave. Was an unbelievable bowler at his peak and very good number 6 or 7 bat.

The thing with Botham is that he could win a game, and did win games, on his own with bat or ball or both.

How many tests did Kallis win with the ball ? A few I would have thought and loads with the bat.

When you look at flintoffs record it shows how average a player he was in the context of these guys.

[lewis_faulds]

A very good batsman, but not a great all rounder, certainly not in the class of Ian Botham or Gary Sobers. To me, an all rounder is someone who was worth his place in the team as both a batsman and a bowler. Only 5 5 wicket hauls in 165 tests was not someone worth his place in the team as a bowler. He was a batsman who bowled a bit.

He's taken 272 wickets in his career and many of them have been in vital, tight spells.

[petehosk]

Guys - this topic is all over ther place at the moment!
Little sub-topics and arguments going on, plus cock measuring about who is better than who. Let's please save the arguments over who is better than who for another topic!

This topic is in celebration for Kallis, who was a qualiy cricketer!!
His International record is very impressive!

TESTS: Batting: 165 matches. 13174 runs. 55.12 Average! High Score 224. Centuries 44
           Bowling: 292 wickets. 32.53 Average. 2.82 Econ. Best 6/54

His ODI and T20 stats are equally as impressive!
The guy deserves some respect! There are better bowlers and better batsmen....but I rate him as one of the best all-rounders to grace the game!
With a record like that, he would make any team!
So let's just say well done JK! And thanks for some fabtastic cricket! 

And my sympathy to SA as I genuinely feel sorry for any team who needs to replace a player like that! They are huge boots to fill! 

[Bulldog Cricket]

Might as well close this topic then

Lol

 

[jamielsn15]

A very good batsman, but not a great all rounder, certainly not in the class of Ian Botham or Gary Sobers. To me, an all rounder is someone who was worth his place in the team as both a batsman and a bowler. Only 5 5 wicket hauls in 165 tests was not someone worth his place in the team as a bowler. He was a batsman who bowled a bit.

have to disagree. Kallis' figures stand up with the greatest all rounders of all time, i.e. Sobers.  You have to consider, if stating whether all rounders would get in on batting or bowling alone, what they would achieve focussing on one skill, rather than being an elite sportsman in two disciplines. Taking kallis, botham and sobers, i am convinced they would all be test class batsmen and bowlers if required to focus on one skill only.

i cannot believe his ability is questioned based on his stats and longevity in the modern game. Phenomenal player

[joeljonno]

A very good batsman, but not a great all rounder, certainly not in the class of Ian Botham or Gary Sobers. To me, an all rounder is someone who was worth his place in the team as both a batsman and a bowler. Only 5 5 wicket hauls in 165 tests was not someone worth his place in the team as a bowler. He was a batsman who bowled a bit.

Kallis got to number 6 on the ranking as a bowler. I think that'd warrant being classed as good enough to be a bowler alone.

PS, he reached number 1 in the batting as well.

[finbarr44]

In my opinion Kallis deserves all the plaudits his stats deserve. South Africa have lost a truly magnificent all rounder, he would have graced any team with his prescence.

[RossViper]

Botham averaged 33 with the bat. Would he get in just as a batsman ?

In the 80s mind you

[Mortimer]

He's taken 272 wickets in his career and many of them have been in vital, tight spells.

272 wickets in 165 test; less that 2 per test. Hardly world class.

[Giraffe208]

Absolutely fantastic player. Although he spent most of his years playing as a batsman who bowls I imagine if he was in a weaker team then chances are he would have bowled more than he was required to! His batting warranted a position in the top order so that was his main role. I think any team in the world would love to have a number 3 like Kallis who could more than hold his own as a seamer!

[Giraffe208]

272 wickets in 165 test; less that 2 per test. Hardly world class.

You're taking his wickets completely out of context though and offering analysis as if he were just a bowler!

[Gerry SA]

Jacques Kallis bowling has been used in a holding role in basically his entire Test career.

When you have Donald, Pollock, Ntini etc all there's not much chance of getting the big 5 wicket hauls.

In any other side, Kallis was good enough to open the bowling or be 1st change.
Need I remind you, Kallis was 90mph in his younger days.

[Vitas Cricket]

Kallis would not only get into, but be a major component in any side that I have witnessed in my lifetime (which is only 25 years mind)

A true great, fingers crossed Ben Stokes turns out to be even half the player JK is/was.