Jacques Kallis

Kallis announced his association with MCW as the official brand ambassador for cricket in September 2022.

No batsman values his wicket more than another and no wicket in cricket is valued higher than another. The broad-shouldered colossus of the South African team, Jacques Kallis, exudes both calm and dread depending on whom you ask.

There are not many players from the modern era that fit the description of the classic cricketer better. Kallis is a fine, powerful batter who possesses a rock-solid technique and an attention span that is impenetrable to diversion. Despite the fact that his effectiveness as a bowler is waning with each passing season, he will be remembered for his occasionally unexpected pace, swing, and uncomfortable bounce. His sure-handedness and quick reflexes make absurd catches appear normal in the slips.

As of 2022, Kallis is the only player in the sport’s history to have taken over 250 wickets in both ODI and Test match cricket, scored over 10,000 runs, and made 131 catches. In his Test match career, he amassed 13,289 runs, 292 wickets, and 200 catches.

In addition to being the “ICC Test Player of the Year” and the “ICC Player of the Year” in 2005, Kallis was crowned the Leading Cricketer in the World by Wisden in 2008 for his accomplishments in 2007. In addition to Sir Garry Sobers, Wally Hammond, and Kevin Pietersen, he is one of the few Test all-rounders whose Test batting average is over 50 and exceeds his Test bowling average by at least 20. He has been hailed as the best cricketer to ever play the game.

In South Africa’s successful 1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy (now known as the ICC Champions Trophy) campaign, which remains the country’s lone ICC tournament victory in history, he was named Player of the Tournament. He received “Man of the Match” honors in both the semifinal and the championship match, finishing with the second-highest run total and the most wickets taken.

On the first day of the first Test against New Zealand on January 2, 2013, Kallis became the fourth player and the first South African to reach 13,000 Test runs. In 2013, he was recognized as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year. After playing in the second test against India in Durban in December 2013, Kallis announced his retirement from Test and first-class cricket. In this game, he reached his 45th Test century, making him one of the select few batsmen to do so.

Interesting facts: Daryll Cullinan and Kevin Pietersen both referred to him as the best cricket player to ever play the game.

After Sir Donald Bradman and before Mohammad Yousuf and Gautam Gambhir, Kallis is one of just four players in Test history to score centuries in five straight games, a feat he accomplished in the 2003–04 season.