5 Best Jacques Kallis performances in Test cricket

5 Best Jacques Kallis performances in Test cricket: One of the greatest all-rounders of world cricket, Jacques Kallis was born today in Cape Town, South Africa. From his schoolboy days, Kallis played cricket religiously. He made his first class debut in 1993/94 and impressed everyone. He made his debut in 1995, and the rest is history. Kallis finished as South Africa’s highest run scorer in both Tests and ODIs, and one of their highest wicket takers as well. His ability to rotate the strike in the middle order and to take crucial wickets made him an integral part of South Africa’s line up. It’s very possible that South Africa will ever see another like him again. Here are the 5 Best Jacques Kallis performances in Test cricket: 5. 101 v Australia in 1999: (source) Chasing an improbable target of 381 to win the Test match, South Africa slumped to 88-3 on a wearing MCG pitch. Joining hands with Hansie Cronje, Kallis batted for six hours, against an attack consisting of Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Michael Kasprowicz as they held on for a draw. Even though his team crumbled around him, Kallis batted with grit and scored a fighting century. He came in at the 6th over and batted till the 98th, effectively ruining Australia’s chance for a victory. 4. 161 and 109 v India in 2010: (Source) After scoring 161 in the first innings, Kallis still was not finished with India. He walked in at 53-3 and saw it become 98-5 as India looked to seal the series. He put on a brilliant show with the bat, using his entire vault of experience to frustrate the Indians. First with Mark Boucher and then with Dale Steyn, he put on a partnership of 157 runs in 45 overs to effectively sink all Indian hopes. It was the second time he hit 2 centuries in the same match. 3. 9/92 against England in 2003: (source) After getting a lead of 35 against England, Kallis scored a crucial 41 to help South Africa give England a target of 401 to win. As England tried to bat for a draw, Kallis ripped through their line-up. After Ntini drew first ball, Kallis dismissed Vaughn, Hussain and Butcher. He then came back to finish off the tail with 3 more wickets as England were bundled out for 209. Adding to his 3 wickets in the first innings, he ended up with 9 in the match, proving he could win matches with the ball as well. 2. 201* v India in 2010: In the same series mentioned before, Kallis made his first ever double century in the 1st Test. After India were dismissed for 136, Kallis joined Hashim Amla and then AB de Villiers to help South Africa post a mammoth 620. The drives and the flicks were in full flow as Kallis tore the Indian bowling apart. The innings consisted of 15 fours and 5 sixes as Kallis finally managed to get the elusive double-century and ensured he would go down as one of the all times bests. 1. 198 runs and 7 wickets v West Indies, 1999: (source) In Kallis’ entire career, he has never bettered this performance. After making a patient 110 in the first innings, Kallis led with the ball to take 2-34 to help skittle West Indies for 212. Then, he dropped anchor in the second innings, scoring 88* to help set a target of 421. But Kallis still wasn’t finished, dismantling West Indies’ middle order in the second innings, taking 5-90 to effectively wipe them out. In the process, he became the 2nd South African to score a hundred, a fifty and take a five-fer in a single Test match. He was promptly awarded the Man of the Match for his splendid efforts.