Jacques of all trades to hang up his Test whites

Durban Test will not only be the 166th of Kallis' illustrious career; it'll also be his last.

It was a hot Christmas day in Durban. The South African team had only called for an optional training session,but were present at Kingsmead nearly in full strength. While most of them had retreated to their newly air-conditioned dressing-room for a breather,the most senior member of the Protea camp continued to sweat it out under the searing sun.

Like always with Jacques Kallis,there were no half measures as he continued to run in at full steam and kept beating Rory Klienveldts bat. He kept at it for close to 40 minutes before finally giving himself a break. Such was his intensity that you just couldnt have guessed that this was to be Kallis final-ever practice session on the eve of a Test match.

Less than half-hour later,the news was out. The second India-South Africa Test in Durban will not only be the 166th of Kallis illustrious career; itll also be his last. Its been an honour and a privilege to have been part of the South African Test team since making my debut 18 years ago. I have enjoyed every moment out in the middle but I just feel that the time is right to hang up my Test whites, Kallis was quoted as saying in CSA press release.

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The release also said that the 38-year-old still remained available for selection in the limited-overs format with playing the 2015 World Cup his ultimate aim. It wasnt an easy decision to come to,especially with Australia around the corner and the success this team is enjoying,but I feel that I have made my contribution in this format, Kallis added.

During his 18-year long career that began right here in Kingsmead against England in 1995,Kallis remained an unsung and unassuming accumulator of runs and wickets,and clearly the foremost all-rounder of his time. The numbers hes achieved with bat and ball though are nothing short of extraordinary. Hes presently fourth on the all-time run-scorers list with 13,174 runs,second behind Sachin Tendulkar in terms of centuries and his average of 55.12 is only second behind Kumar Sangakkara when it comes to those with over 10,000 Test runs.

He has also snared 292 victims during the same time with his seam bowling. The last two years specifically have been a memorable journey with an exceptional group of cricketers, he said. I am fortunate enough to have ended my Test career amongst a group of talented cricketers. I dont see it as goodbye because I still have a lot of hunger to push South Africa to that World Cup in 2015 if I am fit and performing, the release added.

While tributes began flowing in not long after,the Indian team too were taken aback by the sudden announcement that they will be part of a modern-greats final chapter in Tests,over the next five days.

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There was something about him during the first Test too. Like his mind was elsewhere and he seemed very aloof. He didnt seem himself. But Jacques is a true champion and his commitment to the game was amazing. Ive been privileged to have shared a dressing-room with him, said Zaheer Khan.

Sachin Tendulkar,who too retired only last month,also was generous in his praise of the incredible records that Kallis has managed to muster over the last two decades. Hes a true champion cricketer. He scored over 13,000 runs, took almost 300 wickets and close to 200 catches. Imagine one man doing all that, he said.