One player > Opposition combined

In test matches, Kallis has

- More runs
AND
- More wickets
AND
- More catches

Than the entire Pakistan team combined.

Excluding minnows like Ban, NZ, or any team which has been new to test cricket, I wonder how many times this has happened before? Someone who keeps a database of cricket stats can presumably run a query to find out. It is an interesting thing though...

Good observation. Interesting thought. It'd have to be an all-rounder late on in his career against an inexperienced side. I suppose something like Sobers v New Zealand or Imran v Sri Lanka. Or something.

Who played against BD in their first few Tests?

Brass Monkey wrote:Good observation. Interesting thought. It'd have to be an all-rounder late on in his career against an inexperienced side. I suppose something like Sobers v New Zealand or Imran v Sri Lanka. Or something.

Yup, but one should exclude sides that are new to test cricket. Pakistan has been around forever, so this makes it quite rare I'd think.

It also does put into perspective the sheer magnitude of Kallis's achievements, at least statistically. Because he has been mostly a boring batsman and not an exciting bowler to watch, as say Imran was, he gets somewhat under rated. But runs and wickets are still runs and wickets.

Care to define boring batsman?

Non-Pakistan?

PeterCS wrote:Non-Pakistan?

Pakistani batsmen don't bat long enough to make a decision.

You can't define boring or exciting. It is not a measure like Centigrade.

Anthony_Gonzales wrote:You can't define boring or exciting. It is not a measure like Centigrade.

So define "mostly boring"

Well let us just say that given the choice, that is if they had to chose between them, most people would prefer watching Lara, Sachin or Ponting or maybe even Laxman. You of course are free to prefer Kallis. It is all subjective.

Anthony_Gonzales wrote:Well let us just say that given the choice, that is if they had to chose between them, most people would prefer watching Lara, Sachin or Ponting or maybe even Laxman. You of course are free to prefer Kallis. It is all subjective.

Not to those who understand test cricket it isn't

And here I was saying that Kallis is under rated...

Ah...message boards.....

Clearly you don't understand the saying"damning with faint praise"

Kallis' batting is as much of a treat to watch as the likes of L, T and P, in terms of technical ability. But he does have a tendency to let things drift in certain situations. He rarely has been as fluent as the other three, who could be particularly dominant when it all clicked. In that regard, I agree, he's not as attractive to the spectator.

Over the past 3-4 years, he's been better than ever to watch - lovely batting. You could argue it has been his best period.

Yeah, while I suppose the end of career comes quite suddenly with many of the greats, he's showing no signs of fading appetite, and if Tendulkar doesn't manage to be the first to play 200 Tests then I wouldn't rule out Kallis getting there!

Brass Monkey wrote:Kallis' batting is as much of a treat to watch as the likes of L, T and P, in terms of technical ability. But he does have a tendency to let things drift in certain situations. He rarely has been as fluent as the other three, who could be particularly dominant when it all clicked. In that regard, I agree, he's not as attractive to the spectator.

Over the past 3-4 years, he's been better than ever to watch - lovely batting. You could argue it has been his best period.

I would never argue that point. There is no doubt in the earlier part of his career he was overly defensive as he worried about the frailty of the SA batting. The emergence of AB and Amla have loosened those shackles somewhat.

taipan wrote:
I would never argue that point. There is no doubt in the earlier part of his career he was overly defensive as he worried about the frailty of the SA batting. The emergence of AB and Amla have loosened those shackles somewhat.

Just did a little check - since 2010 he's got his runs at 65, S/R 55 - that's quite something, late on his career.

beamer wrote:Yeah, while I suppose the end of career comes quite suddenly with many of the greats, he's showing no signs of fading appetite, and if Tendulkar doesn't manage to be the first to play 200 Tests then I wouldn't rule out Kallis getting there!

And still capable of a 140km bouncer.

Brass Monkey wrote:

taipan wrote:
I would never argue that point. There is no doubt in the earlier part of his career he was overly defensive as he worried about the frailty of the SA batting. The emergence of AB and Amla have loosened those shackles somewhat.

Just did a little check - since 2010 he's got his runs at 65, S/R 55 - that's quite something, late on his career.

He's always had the shots, the pressure has released

Yes, he always had the shots - unlike say, Dravid, who clearly didn't have that level of stroke making ability.

Dravid was top class. He and VVS were always better than SRT in my opinion.

They both certainly made much more dignified exits than Sachin. I think that definitely is a factor when anyone remembers a player.

Back to the original topic, I think this may well be the only such occurrence, due to the sheer magnitude of Kallis runs and wickets.

Not sure how to do the stats, but how about

THIS GAME

The 77-78 series a year earlier, or the WI tour that followed. would have been a possibility, too, but we had Thomson and Simpson in amongst the young muppets and that would preclude the scenario you have described.

That 1978-79 series of famous ill temper, Australia v Pakistan, might also be worth a look. We didn't have much.

Think they're all probably too early for Imran / Botham. Having a think about it, Imran would probably have to be ruled out, on catches alone. Didn't take many... 28.

3,807 runs isn't that formidable either.

Ah, I've found one. F*ck I'm sad, Saturday night and I'm hunting out a stat, I've turned into skully! F*cking Vulture's carbon tax.

Anyway, England v SL 22nd August 1991:

Ian Botham: 5154 runs, 379 wickets, 115 catches.

Sri Lanka: 3732 runs, 98 wickets, 57 catches.