That sums up Kallis, the all-rounder. He was two great players rolled into one and Dravid acknowledges that. "Jacques was an unbelievable player, the workload that he took both as a batsman and a bowler was incredible," Dravid told TOI. The Indian legend spoke about the South African's work ethic and how well he did as a bowler in the subcontinent. "The stats are mind-boggling. Don't forget, he was a very good bowler in Indian conditions too... Surely the greatest all-rounder of our generation," Dravid said.
India are trying to find Dravid's replacement in Cheteshwar Pujara, but how difficult will it be to fill in the vacuum set to be created by Kallis?
Dravid says he is no authority to comment on South African cricket, but that's the biggest issue for the Proteas at the moment. Kallis had done the job of the fourth pace bowler for so long and with such effectiveness that the South African team management doesn't know how to maintain the balance.
The two options they have at the moment are Ryan McLaren and Wayne Parnell. "Faf du Plessis will now probably go up the order and that slot will be filled by one of these guys... McLaren looks the more likely to take the No. 7 slot because he is a decent batsman and a good bowler," former star Peter Kirsten said. There's another option for the South Africans, if they are not too keen to compromise with the depth of their batting line-up. Quinton de Kock can be tried as a middle-order batsman.
Will his family members be present at Kingsmead to see his last Test match? "There are no family members... His parents have passed away, he has broken up with his girlfriend in June. Jacques is a loner, we will see if there's anybody we can call," a Kwa Zulu Natal official said.
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