South African great Jacques Kallis, one of cricket’s finest all-rounders, celebrates his birthday today. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players to ever grace the game, Kallis’ records speak for themselves – 25,534 international runs and 577 wickets across formats, making him a true giant of modern cricket.
Jacques Kallis International Career Summary
| Format | Matches (M) | Runs (R) | Highest Score (HS) | Batting Average (Avg) | 100s | 50s | Wickets (Wkts) | Bowling Average (Avg) | Best Bowling Innings (BBI) | 5 Wickets Innings (5W) | Catches (Ct) |
| Test | 166 | 13,289 | 224 | 55.37 | 45 | 58 | 292 | 32.65 | 6/54 | 5 | 200 |
| ODI | 328 | 11,579 | 139 | 44.36 | 17 | 86 | 273 | 31.79 | 5/30 | 2 | 131 |
| T20I | 25 | 666 | 73 | 35.05 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 27.75 | 4/15 | 0 | 7 |
| Total International | 519 | 25,534 | 224 | – | 62 | 149 | 577 | – | – |
During his illustrious career, Kallis scored 45 Test centuries and 17 ODI hundreds, along with 149 fifties, showcasing unmatched consistency with the bat. His ability to win matches single-handedly earned him 57 Player of the Match awards, one of the highest in world cricket.
A key figure in South Africa’s success during the 2000s, Jacques Kallis was also named Player of the Series in the 2000 ICC Knockout Trophy, which South Africa won. He later added an IPL title to his resume and was rightfully inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, cementing his status among cricket’s immortals.
Also see: Kane Williamson joins Lucknow Super Giants as Strategic Advisor ahead of IPL 2026
Even after retirement, Jacques Kallis remains an inspiration — a symbol of skill, discipline, and balance between bat and ball.
