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Kallis 'honoured and humbled'
09/04/2008 15:41 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Proteas icon Jacques Kallis said on Wednesday he felt "greatly honoured and humbled" to be named as the No 1 cricketer in the world for the year of 2007.
It is an honour that is bestowed annually by the Wisden Cricketer's Almanack which is both regarded as cricket's "bible" and is also the most widely respected written publication on the game.
Wisden, throughout its long existence, has always named five cricketers of the year, a list that has featured many South Africans, although this list is restricted by the fact that no cricketer can be named twice and by the fact that the player has to have been active in the English first-class season.
Wisden also named five cricketers of the century in 2000.
But the decision to name the No 1 cricketer in the world annually only came into being in 2004. The first four winners of the award comprised two Australians - Shane Warne and Ricky Ponting - Andrew Flintoff of England and Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka.
Kallis became the latest nominee in London on Wednesday when the 2008 edition of the almanack was launched to mark the opening of the first-class season in England on Thursday with the traditional match at Lord's between the champion county (Sussex) and a powerful MCC side.
"It is a great honour to receive this award," commented Kallis in his reaction. "You feel very humble when you realize what an accolade it is and you look at the names of the other cricketers to be honoured.
'Inspire me to take my game to a new level'
"As a cricketer I have always played for enjoyment and the sense of pride and passion one has for representing your country and this award will hopefully inspire me to take my game to a new level."
The Almanack awarded Kallis the prize for his 1 210 Test runs at 86.42 last year and 20 wickets at 25.75.
Leading cricket writer Peter Roebuck, in his article on Kallis, said 2007 was the year "he cut loose, the year he dared to dominate a match and even a series, after his omission from the World Twenty20", while labelling him "the first indisputably great African cricketer of the post-apartheid era".
CEO Gerald Majola paid the following tribute to Kallis on behalf of Cricket South Africa: "This is a most well-deserved award for Jacques Kallis, who has become one of the game's great cricketers. There is no doubt that he will go beyond the landmarks set by so many legendary players.
"But it is not only his milestones that count for so much, but also the exemplary way he has played the game and been such a fine role model around the cricket world. Our generation is very blessed to have witnessed his remarkable career at first hand."
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