Kallis is the 2nd best batting allrounder ever. No doubt.
But, Sobers vastly superior.
Sobers
Better batsman
Better bowler
Better fielder
Yikes boy..
That's exactly what all the noobs say who never actually watched Sobers play, but only watched some highlights and heard a bunch of old heads romanticizing Sobers.
Even if Sobers was the "better" batsman to many people.. NUMBERS don't lie. Kallis looks far superior, or the exact same.. at WORST. Depends how you want to look at it. Numbers don't care about your "personal opinion". That's just your opinion.. Numbers are Facts.
Of course, Context also matters.
But when it comes to bowling, it's not even close. Kallis was the superior bowler. The fact that you said Sobers was the "superior" bowler, completely contradicts your statement. You lose all credibility, and sound like spewing horse ****.
SOBERS WAS AN AVERAGE BOWLER. It's not just his bowling stats are so horrendous, especially that strike rate.. but he was literally just a world class batsman who could bowl. Never was a "good/great" bowler.
If Sobers was playing for a better team, or even the South Africa team that Kallis played for.. Sobers wouldn't even bowl a single bloody over. He'd be in the team purely as the best batsman.
For context..
Sobers was the same QUALITY of a bowler that Steve Smith was, before he turned into a batting God.
Sobers only bowled A LOT of spells, because that Windies team didn't have many bowling options. Not good ones. It was also a completely different era.. Even the most below average bowlers looked great, and took wickets.
And don't forget.. just because someone is bowling "different stuff".. doesn't make them an effective or great bowler. Joe Root also bowls off spin and leg spin. Doesn't mean he's a great bowler. He's a semi-decent part timer.
Tendulkar bowled medium pace, leg spin and off spin. Doesn't mean he was ever a "good" bowler. Just another world class batsman, and a part time bowler, with some good spells here and there. Mostly due to the "surprise" element. That's why part timers often roll their arm. Surprise
But if Tendulkar had lived in the Sobers era, and was doing the same things back then.. everyone would just freak out and end up calling him a GREAT bowler.. and the greatest 'All Rounder'. Pure nonsense.
Then Fast forward to 2020, and people would just romanticize and OVERRATE Tendulkar's bowling outrageously. Even the dumb youngins who never really watched him play. That's how easy it is.. Revisionist history
And to ya last point. You also mentioned, "superior fielder". That's also complete nonsense.
Kallis was also known as one of the greatest fielders and slip catchers... He did that for 2 decades. Literally the definition of an All Rounder. Not just "decent" in anything. But game changers with EVERYTHING.
Sobers was arguably the 2nd greatest batsman, post Bradman.
But Kallis..
One of the greatest batsman, with more centuries and runs than 95% of all "specialist" batsmen. One of he greatest fielders, with 2ND MOST CATCHES IN THE HISTORY OF THE SPORT.
And.. One of the best bowlers, especially for his first 15 years. 140kph swing bowler, and CONSISTENT.. If that South Africa team didn't have such a crazy bowling line up, then Kallis would have bowled even more.. mostly as a 1st change. But i doubt that'd have been good for his longevity, especially since Kallis also had to be the best batsman for South Africa. Especially in Test cricket
That type of bowling is superior to anything Sobers ever could do.. But oh no.. "sobers bowled so many different things at once.. he must be the better bowler.. " LOL Idiots.
