Photo: Kolkata Knight Riders - Official / CC BY 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Jacques Kallis is my go-to answer when someone asks who the most underrated great athlete is. Being elite at one cricketing discipline is a career; being elite as both a batsman and a fast-medium bowler, sustained across nearly two decades, borders on absurd. The 2005 Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy and his Wisden recognition only hint at it. What I admire most is the temperament — he accumulated quietly while flashier names took headlines, and the numbers eventually made his argument for him. Had he played for India or England, I suspect he would be a household name far beyond cricket.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Jacques Kallis
- Name (Japanese)
- ジャック・カリス
- Reading
- じゃっく・かりす
- Born
- October 16, 1975 (age 50)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Libra / Rabbit
- Origin
- Pinelands, Western Cape, South Africa
- Height
- 182 cm
- Occupation
- cricketer
2. Background
- High school
- Wynberg Boys' High School
Awards & achievements
- 2013 Wisden Cricketer of the Year
- 2005 Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy
- 2019 Order of Ikhamanga in Silver
- 2005 South African Sportsman of the Year
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Jacques Kallis born?
Born October 16, 1975 (age 50).
Where is Jacques Kallis from?
Jacques Kallis is from Pinelands, Western Cape, South Africa.
What does Jacques Kallis do?
Jacques Kallis works as cricketer.
How tall is Jacques Kallis?
Jacques Kallis is 182 cm.
Cricketer — see all → · More people from South Africa →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-10
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.