Jacques Kallis, a great all-rounder, and an excellent cricketer, has had success throughout his career. He has 12000+ runs and 300+ wickets in test cricket. He has been the backbone of the South African middle order for over a decade. But we know less about Kallis’s personal life. So, here we talk about the Top 10 things you did not know about Jacques Kallis.
1. Early Life And Sporting Interests
Since his childhood, Kallis has been a sports enthusiast. He was an ace swimmer and played tennis, winning medals in both sports. Kallis also loved rugby for its physicality and intensity. He was attracted to sports with more physicality. Kallis also showed interest in tennis, where he improved his abilities and learned hand-eye coordination and strategic thinking to excel in the sport. Kallis went early to sports, showing his broad sporting outlook and a love for physical challenges. The combination of various sports helped Kallis in all aspects and made him respect all sports, increasing his desire for success in multiple fields.
2. Cricketing Family
Kallis’s family has been in South African Cricket for a long time. His father and two sisters have represented the East Province in South African Domestic Cricket. This cricketing mentality instilled in Kallis from a young age made him choose cricket as a career. Growing up in a cricketing environment, immersed Kallis into the cricket culture at a young age, with Kallis developing a deep sense of understanding and appreciation for cricket. Rich family heritage, legacy and the cricketing mentality instilled in him, made Kallis decide to pursue cricket as a career choice, and because of that decision, he is among the greats in cricket.
3. Struggles With Mental Depression
Kallis suffered from mental depression in the early stages of his career due to peer pressure and lots of bad performances from the South African all-rounder, both with bat and ball. He recently spoke up on the tremendous pressure he felt in the middle of his career while he was in pristine form. He feared the failure of his team’s expectations of him and crumble under pressure. Kallis overcame his fears and put himself on the top of cricket.
4. Friendship With Shaun Pollock
Jacques Kallis and Shaun Pollock were all-rounders put into the South African team. Both had complementary qualities that could benefit both players. Where Kallis played patiently, and Pollock was a pinch-hitter. Both players also shared an off-field friendship, which is evident today as they complement and respect each other. Their bond is a testament to their experiences and the years that they played together, and leaving behind a legacy in South African Cricket
5. Guitar Passion
Kallis had a passion for music and learned how to play the guitar. Often, during charity events held within the Proteas team, Kallis would play his guitar, and other players singing and dancing. This passion for music provided a much-needed distraction for Kallis from cricket. Kallis’ love for music brought out the creative and fun side of the team since, after tedious matches, the music provided calmness and decreased the tempo for all players to sit down and relax.
6. Childhood Nickname
In his childhood, Kallis was often quite wobbly as he walked. So, his parents, friends, and relatives called him Woogie. This nickname stuck with him even in the South African national squad until retirement. The name showed his personal and informal side of Kallis. The funny moniker stood throughout Kallis’ career until his retirement. The name served as a remainder of Kallis’s humble beginnings and added some familiarity and warmth to his persona.
7. Jersey Number Changed
While playing his 150th Test Match, an unfortunate event occurred which change Kallis’ life. It was the death of his father, who passed away at 65. Kallis was understandably devastated and heartbroken by the news. Death of a parent, often weighs down heavily on the person, but on a sportsperson, it can have many negative effects, such as loss in performance, emotional outbursts and other effects. It was Kallis’ father, who pushed, motivated and made him choose cricket. But, the only beacon of hope had passed away.
8. Sung The National Anthem In His Heart
This event happened in 2015 during the National Anthem, and Kallis decided to remain silent. This event sparked a whole controversy, which accused Kallis of disrespecting the national anthem and disregarding fellow black South Africans. A South African journalist asked the Cricket Board to ban Kallis from participating in cricket-related events for disrespect. Kallis explained that the death of his parent had weighed heavily, therefore, Kallis chose to sing the South African National Anthem in his heart. Kallis proudly declared that he is and will always be a South African.
9. Retirement And Post-cricket Life
After retiring from cricket, Kallis has taken on various stints to enhance his cricketing experience. He was part of the Big Bash League and the IPL, playing for Kolkata Knight Riders. Kallis has also taken on various coaching roles, where, with his immense cricketing knowledge and experience, he improved many young cricketers’ careers. Kallis was the batting coach for the Kolkata Knight Riders for a brief period and then went to South Africa as the head coach of the national team. Kallis’ change from a celebrated cricketer to a respected coach and mentor indicates his great man-management ability and simplicity since he coached the South Africa U-19 and the present Proteas team. The position also solidifies Kallis’s place as a great cricket player.
10. Philanthropic Efforts
Kallis’s philanthropic efforts are well-known. He started the Jacques Kallis Foundation to support and educate underprivileged children in South Africa. The organization is hugely followed in South Africa and aims to provide health, safety, and education to children who could not have these facilities. Kallis’s dedication to running his foundation and changing the lives of many individuals indicates his selflessness and humanitarian values, which further talk about his generous and compassionate nature.
