Jacques Kallis

Jacques Kallis is a former South African cricketer, and, a former Test and ODI captain. As a right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium swing bowler, Kallis is regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of all time and one of the game’s greatest all-rounders. As of 2016 he was the only cricketer in the history of the game to score more than 10,000 runs and take over 250 wickets in both ODI and Test match cricket, pouching 131 ODI catches along the way as well. His Test match career in particular saw him score 13,289 runs, take 292 wickets and 200 catches respectively.

Kallis played 166 Test matches and had a batting average of over 55 runs per innings. He was named Leading Cricketer in the World in the 2008 Wisden for his performances in 2007 in addition to being the “ICC Test Player of the Year” and ICC Player of the Year in 2005. He has been described by Kevin Pietersen and Daryll Cullinan as the greatest cricketer to play the game, and along with Wally Hammond and Sir Garry Sobers is one of the few Test all-rounders whose Test batting average is over 50 and exceeds his Test bowling average by 20 or more.

The Jacques Kallis Scholarship Foundation was established in Kallis’ benefit year with the aim of combining the academic and life skills programmes of existing school structures with funding and mentoring support from Jacques Kallis. The Foundation with its partners, hopes to provide talented youngsters the opportunity to reach their full sporting and academic potential.