Other than that he has done everything. Scored lots of runs and centuries. Taken so many wickets that only 3 of his countrymen have ever taken more. Only a handful of international players have played more matches than him and even fewer have taken more catches than him. He has even been captain.
But no stumping.
That however is not why Jacque Kallis is never given his due as a remarkable all-rounder. Jacque Kallis is perhaps too over qualified to be an all rounder. He is too correct, reliable and prolific with the bat to be thought of as an allrounder. That and he just doesn't look beautiful doing his stuff.
All rounders have to be bowlers first who never realize their potential as batsmen. Numbers wise...may be a 90-100 Tests, 300-400 odd wickets not more than 5000-6000 runs and not drop catches.
Outside of numbers they need to be...
Rustic natural athletes like a Kapil Dev.
Flamboyant, outrageously handsome with a spectacular bowling action like Imran Khan.
Whole hearted, larger than life, inspiring and storied like an Ian Botham
Strong, fast, efficient and think your side to wins by taking over almost all of the wicket taking workload like a Richard Hadlee.
Play attractive and on rare occasions high quality cricket like a Chris Cairns or Andrew Flintoff.
Jacque Kallis is different.
He is a bit too fat to be athletic.
His run up to bowling is laborious. As if he were climbing a wall. He seems to exert twice as much effort...well it was thrice but he has made his action more efficient recently...in his deliveries than lets say a Shoab Akhtar or Bret Lee for roughly 75% of the output.
By most standards he is adeduately ugly.
I have always switched channels to avoid seeing him bat. Nothing in his batting is compelling for a non South African to watch. Even when he is competing with Sachin for the Maroon Underwear in the IPL.
I don't know anyone who are Kallis fans.
I have never seen him drop catches but heven't noticed when he notched up 160 odd catches either.
But if you just look at the man's numbers you would be excused if you said Gary Sobers was the Jacque Kallis of his time. Why no one ever says that...
