Greatest cricketer of all time: Brett Lee ignores Sachin Tendulkar as ex-Australia star names his pick
Greatest cricketer of all time: Brett Lee ignores Sachin Tendulkar as ex-Australia star names his pick originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.KEY TAKEAWAYS:Brett Lee named Jacques Kallis as the greatest cricketer of all time, ahead of Sachin Tendulkar.Lee still rated the India legend as the best batsman he ever bowled to.The Australia legend praised Kallis' calm preparation and all-round numbers.AdvertisementBrett Lee names Jacques Kallis as the greatest cricketer of all timeAustralia legend Brett Lee has revisited one of cricket's most enduring debates, and once again handed the title of greatest cricketer of all time to Jacques Kallis rather than Sachin Tendulkar.The former fast bowler drew a clear distinction between the finest batsman he faced and the most complete cricketer he played alongside.Lee, who claimed more than 700 international wickets across formats, has long maintained that Tendulkar stands as the best pure batsman the game has seen. However, when weighing up the all-round package, the Australian pointed firmly towards the South African all-rounder.AdvertisementKallis remains the only cricketer in history to score more than 10,000 runs and take over 250 wickets in both Test and ODI cricket. That statistical weight, combined with his slip fielding, formed the backbone of Lee's argument as he made his case on a podcast.MORE: Full list of injuries suffered by India stars in 2026: Latest updates with Indian cricket in a fitness crisisWhy Brett Lee rates Jacques Kallis above Sachin TendulkarLee was unequivocal in separating the batting debate from the wider question of the complete cricketer. He held Tendulkar in the highest regard with the bat while reserving the top overall billing for his former South Africa rival.AdvertisementSpeaking on the BeerBiceps podcast, Lee said, "I've always said that I think that the best batsman to ever play the game is Sachin Tendulkar. But the best cricketer is Jacques Kallis. He's got the best numbers in the world. If you look at his stats, the stats don't lie. He's incredible."The Australian then offered a fascinating first-hand insight into what set Kallis apart, recalling his remarkable calmness before batting. Lee described a player who appeared almost serene in the moments before walking out."But to be alongside as a teammate and to watch him prepare for a game, his heart rate was about 30 beats a minute before going out to bat as he was chilled out. So relaxed," Lee said. "Now it might have been organised chaos in the head, but externally it looked as though he was so chilled."AdvertisementLee went on to detail the meticulous, superstitious routine that Kallis followed before every innings. He explained how the all-rounder repeated the same sequence without fail."The way I'd watch him get changed, he'd put his gear on, his batting gear, and he'd put his left sock on first, his other sock would go in his mouth. Same thing every single day," Lee said."Puts his left pad on, right pad, whichever way it was, it was the same every single time and just get up and just go out and just dominate."MORE: Sudharsan ruled out of Sri Lanka Test series: Three players who can replace injured Indian batterAdvertisementWhy Lee's pick is defensible even against Tendulkar's auraChoosing anyone over Sachin Tendulkar in India will always provoke a reaction, but Lee's logic is difficult to fault on its own terms. He is not diminishing Tendulkar as a batsman, and his separation of "best batsman" from "most complete cricketer" is a fair and honest distinction rather than a slight.The numbers make the case for him. A player who could open the bowling, bat at number three or four and hold catches at slip offers a completeness no specialist can match, and Kallis did all three at the very highest level for the best part of two decades.Tendulkar remains the more romantic figure, but on the cold measure of all-round value, Lee's verdict stands up to scrutiny.Advertisement
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