Popular players of South African cricket team: Jacques Kallis

Formidable batsman, splendid bowler and an extremely athletic fielder, very few cricketers in the history of the game have been as complete in all departments as the South African cricket team all-rounder Jacques Kallis.

Born in Cape Town, South Africa in 1975, the tall, good looking South African made his ODI debut against England cricket team in 1996. Since then he has represented South African team in 307 matches and scored a staggering 1100,2 runs at a fantastic average of 45.84. Kallis likes to spend a lot of time at the crease; hence he has 17 centuries and 80 fifties to his name with a top score of a 139. With the ball, Jacque Kallis has often been the opening bowler for his team and has not shied back from bowling at the toughest stages of the game. To his credit he has 259 wickets in the ODIs at a decent average of just under 32 with his best bowling being 5/30.

Kallis has always been a solid performer for his team during the World Cups but has not been lucky to have won any edition of the tournament yet. His high point in his world cup career came in the 2007 Cricket World Cup tournament held in the West Indies where he was the leading run scorer for his team with 485 runs though this was not without heavy criticism from the South African press, who blamed the stylish right hander for playing at a slower rate than he normally does.

At the 2011 Cricket World Cup which is to be held in the sub continent, Jacques Kallis seems to be the main stay of the South African side and a lot depends on his shoulders if his side our to lift the gold laden trophy for the first time.

Top Three T20 Cricket All-Rounders of South Africa and Zimbabwe

Top Three T20 Cricket All-Rounders of South Africa

Most people share the same opinion that South African cricket team has the best T20 cricket gameplay because of their experienced all-rounders who are exceptional hard-hitters and bowlers. Jacque Kallis is ranked number one for his commendable batting; ability to set as the situation demands and mind blowing medium-fast bowling. He has scored more than 512 runs and has taken 5 wickets in just 16 T20s. Albie Morkel; an important player of South African T20 squad is second in rankings. He is greatly known for his intense aggressiveness and unpredictable medium bowling; as a result he has scored 443 runs and taken 18 wickets in 31 T20 matches. Johan Botha has clinched second position by awesome bowling and commendable stroke-play which has enabled him to take 26 wickets and 110 plus runs in his T20 career. Based on general point of view South Africa is going to succeed a lot in future as it is working hard on production of destructive all-rounder force. Soon they are going to be recognized as a team with most lethal squad, consisting of many all-rounders.

Top Three T20 Cricket All-Rounders of Zimbabwe

If we go through the entire Zimbabwe cricket squad, few all-rounders, who fulfill the criteria for being a good all-rounder, are going to be short listed. Due to lack of financial, managerial, economical and political support, up till now Zimbabwe has produced limited number of talented all-rounders. Elton Chigumbura is so far the best T20 all-rounder of Zimbabwe for his diversified gameplay involving complex stroke play and destructive medium bowling. He has scored 174 runs and taken 12 wickets in just 14 T20 matches. Another rising star in T20 cricket is Prosper Utseya who ranks second with 16 wickets and 36 runs as he has the potential to become a great T20 all-rounder in future as he has been give very less chances so far to prove himself. Brendon Taylor ranks third as he has scored 224 in 9 T20 innings along with 1 wicket in just 2 innings. All that Zimbabwe needs to do inorder to improve their gameplay is to play more T20 internationals so their current squad can develop more significantly and can find it easy to tackle each and every situation. On whole, Zimbabwe lacks in talented all-rounders cream.

Top Five Test Cricket All-Rounders of South Africa

Top Five Test Cricket All-Rounders of South Africa

South Africa is a team with variety of all-rounders who are extremely talented as they have the skills; determination and curiosityneeded to win each and every match. Jacque Kallis ranks top among them for his fine, forceful batting, ability to stay focused and destructive medium-fast bowling. Jacque Kallis ahs currently scored 11126 runs and taken 266 wickets in just 140 test matches. Kallis is followed up by Shaun Pollock, with 3781 runs and 421 wickets in 108 test matches. Shaun Pollock was an immaculate, line and length seamer who also possessed technical, aggressive batting skills. Nicky Boje ranks number third because of his wicket-taking left arm orthodox bowling and diversified batting skills, by use of which he was able to score1312 runs and take100 wickets in just 43 test matches. Makhaya Nitin ranks number 5 for his peaceful, accurate and diversified bowling along with exceptional batting skills which ivolved the use of well-timed hard hitting. Makhaya Nitini has scored 699 runs and taken 390 wickets in 101 test matches.

If God wills, South Africa will produce even more talented all-rounders for the domination of test cricket. South African Cricket Team has shown a consistently good performance due to the presence of great all rounders in the Test side.

1. J.Kallis
2. S.Pollock
3. N.Boje
4. M.Nitini
5. G.Smith

Top Ten Fielders of South Africa in ODI Cricket

Top Ten Fielders of South Africa in ODI Cricket

South Africa is in fact the only team which is exceptionally best in Test Cricket, One Day Internationals and Twenty-Twenty. They have been very good in their game, as they have the perfect bonding required which helps them in being coordinated.

They are extremely good with their catches and it’s a known thing that they do not miss out in air catches. They dive well, even the senior players do, and this helps the team complement each other. They have always been on the forefront as far as fielding is concerned and hence it’s known as the team with the best fielding side. South Africa players are athletic in nature, which helps them stay for longer time on the field. Here is the list of top ten best fielders of South Africa in ODI:

1. JH Kallis
2. HH Gibbs
3. JN Rhodes
4. SM Pollock
5. GC Smith
6. WJ Cronje
7. DJ Cullinan
8. G Kirsten
9. BM McMillan
10. AB de Villiers

Fielding in an ODI match sometimes proves the only difference between the winning and losing side. South African Cricket Team is known for their brilliant fieling. J Rhodes is especially known for his unmatchable fielding skills.

Top Ten Fielders of South Africa in Test and T20 Cricket

Top Ten Fielders of South Africa in Test Cricket

South Africa has set the benchmark for all the playing nations in Cricket. They have some amazing fielders namely, Jhonty Rhodes, Herschelle Gibbs and AB de Villiers who are considered almost God-like in fielding.

South Africa, when on the field, gives it its best and hence the players are known as the best fielding side. In test matches as well, they are complacent and their fielding has never dropped. They have hardly ever faltered in their fielding, as they are way too committed to the game.

South Africa has good bowlers as well and they also contribute to the fielding very well. Shawn Pollock, known to be a good bowler, has always been excellent in his fielding as well. Here is the list of top ten fielders of South Africa in test cricket:

1. JH Kallis
2. GC Smith
3. HH Gibbs
4. G Kirsten
5. AB de Villiers
6. SM Pollock
7. DJ Cullinan
8. B Mitchell
9. ND McKenzie
10. BM McMillan

Top Ten Fielders of South Africa in T20 Cricket

People prefer watching Twenty-Twenty matches for the simple reason that it is for a shorter duration, and this has attracted a lot of craze and has made them avoid the traditional forms of cricket. Twenty-Twenty does not possess the actual skills of the player. Twenty-Twenty requires the player to be very concentrated and confident.

Their recent performances have shown that they are a difficult team to beat in this format as well. South Africa has been gifted with some exceptional players.

AB de Villiers is considered one of the finest players in fielding, and because of his mannerisms and his play, he reminds a lot of Jhonty Rhodes. Indefinitely, South Africa is one of the best fielding teams in Twenty-Twenty. Here is the list of top ten fielders of South Africa in T20:

1. AB de Villiers
2. GC Smith
3. JP Duminy
4. JA Morkel
5. J Botha
6. DW Steyn
7. HH Gibbs
8. RE van der Merwe
9. JH Kallis
10. JM Kemp

« Previous Page