What If The Nicer Guys Finish First?

Jacques Kallis, appeared to suffer from the disparity between what cricketers strive to achieve and what the public wants to see. The public wants swashbuckling stroke making, hysterics on the ground and a unique brand identity built around each of its favourite sportsmen. Kallis struggled to fit into these brackets and often slipped away from adulation. But he was the go to guy, when South Africa faced trouble. Be it in tests, ODIs or T-20s, with the bat or with the ball, Jacques Kallis was the work horse in the team. He was the man whom the team could bank on. On that front I find it difficult to draw parallels with any other cricketer. Rahul Dravid comes close. As they say- Nice guys never finish first!

There is an immense sense of satisfaction in being what you are. Nice guys needn’t come first. They are already there.

The Debate Is Settled

Until Jacques Kallis made his debut in 1995 for South Africa, the answer was pretty much the same throughout the world. Even people with passers-by knowledge of the game knew the answer as “Sir Garfield Sobers”, to the question- Who is the greatest all rounder that Cricket has seen?

None could have imagined in 1995 that Jacque Kallis would one day take that hallowed spot. I hate to not say that Sir Gary is the greatest. He very well is, in his own right. He played in a different era. He was my grandfather’s favourite. But if we quantify what Kallis has achieved in the last 19 years of international cricket, it is impossible not to admit that he deserves to be the number 1. In 166 tests and 325 ODIs, Kallis has scored 24,863 runs and took 565 wickets. The sheer quantity of those numbers makes one shudder. To put things further in perspective, Andrew Flintoff widely known for his “all rounder skills” has managed to score some 6000 odd runs and take 350 odd wickets in both formats of the game combined. Flintoff’s career lasted a little over a decade. It could have been longer but he chose to be a cowboy instead. The world recognises the cowboys better, and it is sometimes very sad to admit it.

But reputation, cheer leading or the lack of it never bothered Kallis. Like a trained warrior he went out every time the opening pair fell and the scoreboard read 1 down and performed. His technique was the best in the world. His physique gave him such invincibility that it was a bowler’s nightmare to break his defence. He could charge Glenn Mcgrath by walking down the pitch. Yes, this probably says it all.

From Hansie Cronje to Greame Smith, it was Kallis whom they threw the ball to when the going got tough. His fast-medium out swingers were unplayable. He was quick to grasp the slow ball technique which many fast bowlers even today fail at. In the slip, he not only had the safest of hands but also kept up his team’s morale. Boucher and he made a killer pair behind the stumps.

It is fortunate to have witnessed Jacques Henry Kallis play. My grandfather saw Sobers play. I don’t know if my next generation will be as fortunate. Let’s at least hope the nicer guys will start finishing first.