One of the great modern day all-rounders has quit the game. Shaun Pollock will definitely go down as one of the best all-rounders in the game ever and is definitely right up there at the top as far as modern day all-rounders go.

Pollock was chaired from the field in his final test by captain Smith and Nel. That picture of the great leaving the field will be long remembered. Pollock was an intelligent cricketer and one of the most consistent ones the game has known.

I personally never liked Pollock. But the primary reason for that was because he was such a competitor, an in your face one and would always perform well against Pakistan. But now that he has retired I can look back and say most of it was just his competitiveness that I hated so much. He was a fierce competitor but generally respected in the cricketing world. Most cricketers did not have anything bad to say about him.

For me Pollock was hope in the cricketing world for the diminishing class of all-rounders - he truly was a genuine one. He was heavily criticized for his captaincy, but handled being axed with tremendous class and grace. I think the label of chokers will stay with the South African team in the Pollock era. I do think as a team they underacheived since they had 3 genuine all-rounders in Pollock, Kallis and Klusener.

Pollock was an exceptional cricketer and will be remembered both for his ability, grit and will to win. Pollock played 108 tests and took 421 wickets at an average of 23.11; he also scored 3781 runs at an average of 32.31. Pollock also played 299 ODIs and took 388 wickets at an average of 24.53; he also scored 3476 runs at an average of 26.33.

The cricketing world says goodbye to one of the best all-rounders in the game. The South African team and the cricketing world will miss him.