Serious back problem may have forced Kallis to elude his World Cup goal, says his mentor
Mumbai: Though South Africa's retiring all-rounder Jacques Kallis has not admitted, it is likely he may have had back problem which forced him to quit the international cricket, according to Keith Richardson, the mentor of Kallis at Wynberg Boys' High School, where the player was educated.
Kallis has been very close to Richardson and often visits to this school.
Speaking from Cape Town, the school head master says, "Kallis was having serious problems with his back before he left for Sri Lanka which was why he did not bowl at all while over there on the recent tour. He has retired because of ‘the wear and tear on his body."
"It doesn’t matter what sphere of life it is, there comes a time when a person realises for himself that the time is right. Jacques Kallis started playing international cricket in 1995 and has been the rock of South African cricket through a number of eras. His remarkable feats during the captaincies of Hansie Cronje, Shaun Pollock and Graham Smith will be admired and marvelled in the cricket world for as long as the game is played".
"There is no doubt that he has been instrumental in establishing the Proteas as a very real force in world cricket throughout these eras. He has outlasted all his contemporaries and most of his friends – so presumably this has played a role in this final big decision", Keith Richardson added.
"His one remaining cricketing goal was to win a World Cup. This will now elude him but his legacy will inspire the next generation of South African cricket stars", he signed off.
