Pat Symcox says Kallis is the greatest ever

Ex Sport 24

Cape Town - Former Proteas bowler Pat Symcox has rated South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis as "the greatest cricketer that has ever lived".

In an interview with Zee News website, Symcox reserved special praise for Kallis, who was the last of the Proteas team-mates that Symcox had played alongside during his career, to retire.

Symcox suggested that not only was Kallis the greatest all-rounder who had ever played, but that the South African was arguably the greatest cricketer ever to have played the game.

"Well, you can only measure all sports that are measurable by time, weight whatever, distance run. Who is the fastest runner in the world? Who is the fastest swimmer in the world? That is measured by a certain measurement done by a clock," he said. 

"In cricket, we use statistics to measure the person who is deemed to be the most proficient all-rounder that's ever played and in terms of cricket statistics, Jacques Kallis is the greatest cricketer that has ever lived. In terms of batting and bowling and catches, no one has bettered that. He is, unquestionably, statistically, the best cricketer to have played the game. Now that's a heck of a statement," Symcox said.

The former Proteas off-spinner said he believed that other players and captains, would agree with his statement.

"I think if you ask his peers, the players who have played against him in the last twenty years and I am not talking about poor players, I am talking about great players, that have been captains, that have understood the game, bowlers and batsmen and fielders, they all would agree that Jacques Kallis is the best all-rounder that has played." 

"I know there have been some great players before, in India we have had Kapil Dev, in West Indies we have Garry Sobers, we have our own Mike Proctor, we have had Shaun Pollock, England have had Ian Botham, Australia have had some great players, but none of them have the record of Jacques Kallis, not one. And that would put him ahead of the pack in my opinion," he said.
Only question is would you have Kallis or a guy like Bradman you scored virtually a century in each test innings he played in. Seems like Kallis is at last getting due recognition.

 This poll appeared on Sport 24

How will retiring Test legend Jacques Kallis be remembered in SA sporting circles?

32 %One of SA's greatest cricketers

41 %SA's greatest ever cricketer

20 %One of SA's greatest sportsmen

7 %SA's greatest ever sportsman How anybody can not agree at least he is Soutrh Africa's best ever cricketer is beyond me

 Meanwhile Piers morgan repots a broken rib compliments of Brett Lee. Cape Town - Television host Piers Morgan has revealed he ended up with a broken rib after facing former Australian fast-bowler Brett Lee in a controversial over. 
 VIDEO: Brett Lee bowls to Piers Morgan. OUCH! Morgan tweeted pictures of his bruises and said he suffered a cracked wrist, but has now confirmed more serious damage was done. Morgan tweteed: BREAKING (literally!) NEWS: Fractured rib confirmed by X-ray...thanks again @BrettLee_58 
 According to the Stuff website, the face-off was inspired after Morgan, a cricket fan, launched a Twitter tirade about the England team's "pathetic" form during the second Ashes Test in Adelaide. When he said he reckoned he could do better than his countrymen, he was challenged by Lee. 
 Morgan was struck four times on the body by Lee, cleaned bowled once and left flat on his back by another delivery. 
 The stunt was slammed by Kiwi cricket great Sir Richard Hadlee, who described it as "dangerous and unnecessary" and said it could have proved fatal for Morgan. But Morgan said there were no hard feelings between him and Lee. The pair were spotted dining together in Sydney on Monday night, and Morgan said he still thought it was the "most exciting 10 minutes of my life" Ouch! (Twitter)

 Duplicate

 

 There have been great ones in the past.  Rice, Barlow, the Pollocks, Kuiper, Zulu and then some..  The thing is that they played in an era where there was not the same exposure and no real TV coverage (many people did not have tv then).  Kallis has had it all, exposure to games and competitions like IPl etc.  He is truly a great, great player, but if he is indeed the best ever will probably depend on the individual.  I am young so the others for me is like history.. Kallis is the greatest allrounder South Africa has ever had..

 Personally I dont think there can be any question about his being the best SA cricketer. The only question is he the best cricketer of all time The stats suggest h e could be.