Jacques Kallis is widely regarded as one of cricket’s legends, having played a pivotal role in numerous historic moments for South Africa. Known not only for his prowess as a top-order batsman but also for his seam-up bowling, Kallis is considered one of the greatest all-rounders in the history of the sport. Even after his retirement in 2014, Kallis’s influence on South African cricket remains so significant that his name frequently comes up in discussions about the team’s legacy.
In a recent online chat, former Pakistan wicketkeeper Rashid Latif and South Africa’s Pakistan-origin spinner Imran Tahir shared a story that underscores Kallis’s exceptional talent and focus. The exchange, which has gone viral on social media, went like this:
Latif asked, “Is it true that Jacques Kallis used to sleep before batting?”
Tahir responded, “I’ve seen it with my own eyes. It was one of my early Tests, and we were playing against Sri Lanka in Cape Town. Hashim (Amla) bhai and Alviro Petersen were about to open. I went into the changing room, and there was Jacques Kallis, fast asleep and snoring. I was puzzled, thinking, ‘There’s a Test match going on, and he has to bat at No.3. How will he wake up?’ Morne Morkel came by, and I asked if I should wake Kallis up. He told me, ‘No, don’t do that; he’ll be annoyed.’ So, I decided to wait until a wicket fell to see what Kallis would do.”
Tahir continued, “Just then, Alviro Petersen got out. Kallis opened one eye, looked at the TV, then opened the other eye, rubbed his eyes, calmly put on his gloves, picked up his bat, and walked out to the crease. He went on to score 237 not out. I was completely stunned.”
Latif humorously added, “If something like this happened in our Pakistan dressing room, there would have been a $200 fine.”
Tahir replied with a smile, “Not just a $200 fine; the player might never play again.”
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Sleeping habits of Jacques Kallis @ImranTahirSA @DrNaumanNiaz @krick3r pic.twitter.com/bbc0apwmrB
— Rashid Latif | 🇵🇰 (@iRashidLatif68) June 16, 2024
