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| Kallis is considered one of the greatest all-rounders of all times. |
Kallis will, however, continue to play T20 cricket franchise Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL and for Sydney Thunder in the BBL. He finishes his career with 11,579 ODI runs in 328 matches with 17 centuries and 86 fifties at an average of 44.36. He played 25 T20s, scoring 666 runs with five fifties. He is the only batsman from South Africa, with more than 10,000 runs in tests and ODIs. Kallis had played his final test in December 2013 against India in Durban, finishing with 13,289 runs in 166 matches with 45 centuries, 58 fifties at an average of 55.37. His last T20 was in October 2012.
Kallis, 38, had plans to play the 2015 World Cup and was part of the plans of South Africa ODI accumulation. However, he managed only 0, 1 and 4 runs in the three ODIs in Sri Lanka recently.
"I realized that Sri Lanka my dream of playing in the World Cup was a bridge too far," Kallis said in a statement. "I just knew on that tour I was done.'s Squad who was in Sri Lanka is incredible and I think have a good chance of bringing home the trophy in March.
"I would like to thank Cricket South Africa, the team, the sponsors of the team, my sponsors, fans and all the people involved in my career. Was an amazing trip.
"I'm not retiring from all cricket since I have a two-year contract with the Sydney Thunder and, if possible, to help Kolkata Knight Riders IPL defend the title won earlier this year."
Kallis ODI Future 'was in the balance last year when ODI was on hiatus for a year and nine months. He had opted out of the Champions Trophy 2013 for personal reasons and will not join the team for a limited-overs tour Sri Lanka in August and the Pakistan series in UAE. He used the winter break to reassess their future and spoke with coach Russell Domingo play a more global tournament. He therefore made a return local ODIs against Pakistan and India in late 2013. However, was well below his best since his return, he scoring only fifty in seven games.
The national selectors were planning to rest some players for the next series of three bilateral ODI matches in Zimbabwe, but send a full-strength squad for the series of three to go. The challenge for the selectors was to build the team around and in the past Kallis, Faf du Plessis was left out to accommodate it.
"South Africa is blessed with one of the biggest talents in world cricket Jacques Kallis," said Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat CSA. "He is definitely one of the best players that ever appeared in our wonderful game and certainly has been the standard bearer of excellence Proteas for nearly two decades.
"He has played a very important role in making cricket a truly national sport of winners and in doing so, has contributed much to the important process of nation building. He is a true professional and has been an absolute privilege having worked with him both as coordinator of the selectors and now as CEO. "
"To say that we will miss him on the field is stating the obvious. Every one of us from today will cherish the many fond memories of his impressive career."
Although he had an illustrious career as a hitter, covering about 19 years, it was never a full-time captain. He led the team in two tests against Australia at home and 13 ODIs to get by.
