Kallis hailed as South Africa's 'savior knight'

It turned out to be an emotional 12 months for Test cricket as South Africa's indefatigable warhorse Jacques Kallis quit the format, having cemented his place as statistically the greatest allrounder ever and a modern great of the game.

Australian Ricky Ponting bowed out at Perth late last year while India plunged into deep depression when Sachin Tendulkar walked into the sunset amid much hype and fanfare in Mumbai last month.

Despite Kallis' stature in world cricket, emotions are unlikely to reach such levels when he walks out on Thursday for one last time in Test whites against India at Durban - the same venue where he made his debut 18 years ago.