Proteas all-rounder revival brings an end to post-Kallis era
That didn't stop South African cricket from trying. In the years since, many all-rounders have come and gone as the Proteas searched in vain for someone who even remotely resembled the greatness of Kallis. It soon became clear that the pursuit was more fairytale than reality.
On that Boxing Day Test at Kingsmead in 2013, South African cricket — along with the wider cricketing world — recognised that Kallis' retirement marked the end of an era. A cricketer of his calibre, offering genuine world-class skill with both bat and ball, would likely never grace the field again.
A little over a decade ago, the greatest all-rounder the sport of cricket has ever seen, Jacques Kallis, walked away from the game, concluding a career that spanned almost two decades.
The surreal feeling of scoring your maiden Test century and claiming your maiden five-wicket haul in the same match! 🤯🔥 Corbin Bosch delivered a powerhouse performance, etching his name into the history books with match-defining moments that showcased his exceptional… pic.twitter.com/eO2R4QpfmS
Then, in 2016, a teenager still clad in his St Stithians school uniform burst onto the domestic scene. Wiaan Mulder was dismantling seasoned professionals with both bat and ball for the Lions, and suddenly, hopes of discovering the next great Proteas all-rounder reignited.
Mulder's early rise saw him fast-tracked into the national set-up, burdened with the near-impossible expectation of replicating Kallis' standards. But international cricket is unforgiving, and those lofty comparisons quickly became suffocating.
Despite solid domestic performances, Mulder struggled to make a lasting impact at the highest level, and the once-hopeful conversation began to fade.
Fast forward a few years, and a new name emerged — Marco Jansen. Towering and talented, Jansen made an immediate impact with both bat and ball.
At the same time, Mulder quietly rebuilt his game. He recently scored his maiden Test century in subcontinent conditions, cementing his role as South Africa's first-choice Test all-rounder.
Mulder has since added a second Test century, this time batting at No. 3, and is now on the cusp of leading the side for the first time — set to captain the Proteas in the upcoming second Test against Zimbabwe later this week.
Meanwhile, Corbin Bosch has wasted no time making headlines. In just two Test matches, the emerging all-rounder has already notched up a five-wicket haul, a century, and a fifty — a remarkable start that further bolsters the Proteas' all-rounder stocks.
It is, of course, still early days. But for the first time in years, South African cricket can begin to dream again — not of replacing Kallis with a single player, but of cultivating a group of versatile, match-ready all-rounders who can deliver when called upon.
Lingering behind that front line of Mulder, Jansen, and Bosch is Senuran Muthusamy — a reliable slow left-armer with a solid batting pedigree. In his four-match Test career so far, he has one fifty to his name and continues to offer balance and control.
Beyond the national squad, domestic cricket is also producing a promising crop. The Dolphins' Jason Smith, the Lions' Beyers Swanepoel, and Western Province's George Linde are among those keeping the pipeline of talent flowing.
Jacques Kallis may have been a once-in-a-generation cricketer, but a new era of South African all-rounders is quietly emerging. And while none may wear the mantle of 'the next Kallis', together, they could form the backbone of a revitalised Proteas side for years to come.
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