Hashim Amla

Hashim Mahomed Amla (born 31 March 1983) is a South African cricketer. A right-handed top order batsman and occasional medium-pace bowler, Amla bats at number 3 for South Africa in Test matches and has opened in limited overs contests. He is currently ranked by the International Cricket Council as the world's top batsman in Test and One Day Internationals (ODIs). Amla became the first South African to score a Test match triple century when he scored 311 not out against England in 2012. In the 57th innings of his one-day international career, Amla became the fastest batsman to score 3,000 ODI runs, requiring 12 innings fewer than Sir Vivian Richards. Also on 8 December 2013, he became the fastest batsman to score 4,000 ODI runs, requiring 8 innings fewer than Sir Vivian Richards. In his 57th match, Hashim Amla became the fastest cricketer to reach 10 centuries in ODIs. Hashim Amla in 2013 became the first batsman since Ricky Ponting to head both Test and ODI rankings at the same time in the latest ICC charts. He was named as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 2013.

Hashim Amla

Amla training with South Africa in 2009.
Personal information
Full name	Hashim Mohammad Amla
Born	31 March 1983 (age 30) Durban, Natal Province, South Africa
Nickname	Hash
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Batting style	Right-handed
Bowling style	Right-arm medium
Role	Batsman
Relations	Ahmed Amla (brother)
International information
National side	South Africa
Test debut(cap 295)	28 November 2004 v India
Last Test	18-22 Dec 2013 v India
ODI debut (cap 90)	9 March 2008 v Bangladesh
Last ODI	11 December 2013 v India
ODI shirt no.	1
T20I debut(cap 38)	13 January 2009 v Australia
Last T20I	22 November 2013 v Pakistan
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1999–2013	KwaZulu Natal Dolphins(squad no. 1)
2009	Essex
2010	Nottinghamshire
2013–present	Cape Cobras
2013	Surrey
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA Matches    72     85   170   140 Runs scored 5,927 4,054 13,268 5,723 Batting average 52.32 53.88 51.98 45.06 100s/50s 20/27 12/24 41/66 15/34 Top score 311* 150 311* 150 Balls bowled 54 – 387 16 Wickets 0 – 1 0 Bowling average – – 253.00 – 5 wickets in innings – – 0 – 10 wickets in match – n/a 0 n/a Best bowling – – 1/10 – Catches/stumpings 58/– 40/– 124/– 60/–

Personal life

Amla at fielding practice, Adelaide Oval, January 2009

Born to a South African Indian Muslim family, Amla's grandparents are originally from Surat of Gujarat state in western India.Amla is a devout practising Muslim.

His elder brother, Ahmed Amla, was also a professional cricketer, having made his debut two years earlier than Hashim, and went on to captain the Dolphins.

Early years and domestic career

Upon graduating from Durban High School and impressing in the youth circuit, Amla made his debut for his provincial team, the KwaZulu Natal Dolphins, soon captaining South Africa at the 2002 Under-19 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand, leading his team to the final. During his formative years, former Western Province captain and coach Hylton Ackerman had been influential in Amla's development, first spotting his talent and honing his skills during his coaching career. His promise led him to being appointed captain of KwaZulu-Natal at the young age of 21. Amla has been cited as a future captain of South Africa ever since his first class years. Amla moved from the Dolphins to Cape Cobras in 2013.

International career

Upon being appointed captain of the Dolphins, Amla began the 2004–2005 South African domestic season by scoring four centuries during his first eight innings.His success at the domestic level and consistent performances for the South Africa A squad led to him being chosen for the winter 2004 tour of India at the age of 21, thereby becoming the first South African of Indian descent to represent South Africa in international cricket.

Making his debut in Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on 28 November 2004, he initially made a slow start to his career, with his technique having been criticized after scoring 36 runs in the 2004 series against England. After honing his technique and working on his skills with the Dolphins, for whom he regularly top-scored in the South African domestic circuit, he proved his critics wrong in 2006 as he scored a comeback 149 against New Zealand at Newlands, Cape Town, helping guide South Africa to a match-saving draw. He subsequently continued this success, earning a national contract and scoring 1599 runs at an average of 57.10 in his next 19 Tests, solidifying his position as South Africa's number 3 batsman. On 27 March 2008, he scored an unbeaten 159 against India in Chennai amidst searing conditions. His success throughout the 2008 year, in which he scored 1012 runs, consisted of numerous centuries and solid performances against India, England and Australia. During South Africa's 2009 tour of Australia, Amla helped South Africa win a historic Test and one day series victory over Australia, scoring 259 runs at an average of 51.80 during the Tests and contributing crucial scores in the one day series, including a match-winning 80 in the series clincher.

In April 2009, Amla was signed by Essex as their overseas player for a portion of the 2009 English county season, as a short-term replacement for Danish Kaneria. During his stay at the club, he scored two centuries in two Championship matches, including a match-saving 181 on his debut, the highest score by an Essex debutant, as well as 111 runs off 107 in his first Pro40 match, against Sussex. Essex fans had warmed to him throughout his stay, affectionately calling him "W.G" in reference to W.G. Grace.

During England's 2009–2010 tour of South Africa, Amla was an integral member of the side throughout the series, scoring a crucial century in the first Test at Centurion and contributing important innings during the rest of the series. His performances also saw him move up the ICC Test Batting rankings.

Top form (2010–2012)

Amla started 2010 in February against India in a two-match test series against India in India. In the first test he scored 253* as South Africa reached 558. After this a superb bowling performance from Dale Steyn meant that India were bowled out for 233 with Steyn bagging seven wickets. India forced to follow-on were bowled out for 319 as South Africa won by an innings and six runs. In the second test match Amla made 114 before being caught by MS Dhoni despite Amla's century the remaining South African batting order could only manage 296. India batted and scored 643 with centuries fromVirender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and MS Dhoni. The South African chase collapsed poorly but Amla still managed another century scoring 123* as South Africa were bowled out for 290 and crashed to an innings defeat. After this Amla toured the West Indies for 5 ODIs and three test matches. Amla top scored in the first ODI with 102 as South Africa coasted to a comfortable victory. He followed this up with 92 in the second ODI as South Africa again sealed a 17 run victory. In the third ODI, Amla scored 30, but in the fourth ODI he returned with a century in scoring 129 of 115 balls. He made 45 in the fifth and final ODI before he was run-out by Kieron Pollard as South Africa won narrowly by one wicket.

The three match test series was one where Amla performed consistently but didn't register any centuries, he top scored with 44. The first test was a poor one for Amla scoring 2 and 5 as South Africa still won comfortably. In the following test he scored 44 and 41 as the match was drawn, he scored 5 and 25 in the final test match as South Africa won by seven wickets.

In the three match ODI series against Zimbabwe, Amla scored 110 as South Africa gave Zimbabwe 351 to win and South Africa won the match by 64 runs. The second ODI saw Amla score 110 as South Africa cruised to an 8 wicket victory and sealed the three match series with one game to spare. Amla had a quiet final ODI scoring 24 as South Africa won by 264 runs.

Amla went into a five-match ODI series against Pakistan on the back of good form and in the first ODI managed 35 as South Africa won by 8 wickets. Amla scored a quickfire half century in the second ODI before being given leg-before to a Shahid Afridi leg-break, despite this good knock from Amla and 286 from South Africa, they couldn't win the match courtesy of a superb century by Abdul Razzaq scoring 109 of just 73 balls. In the third ODI Amla scored 119* as the rest of the South African order collapsed around him and the team only managed 228, however South Africa won the match by just two runs courtesy of some superb death bowling yorkers from Rusty Theron.

Following these excellent performances in the ODI format Amla was selected in the 12-man Twenty20 squad against India, at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, he was selected in place of opener Loots Bosman, the most significant thing about the match before it started or ended was that it was the final match of Makhaya Ntini.

SA in England 2012 – In the 1st Test at The Oval, he scored the highest ever test score by a South African and the country's first triple century. He scored 311 not out in a man of the match performance, as South Africa smashed England by an innings and 12 runs. He scored his 16th Test century in the 2nd innings of the 3rd Test at Lords, as South Africa beat England by 51 runs to clinch the series 2–0, and ascend to position 1 in the ICC test rankings. He was South Africa's man of the series. He topped his personal batting best with 150 (from 124 balls) in the 2nd One-Day International against England at Southampton.

SA in Australia 2012 – In the 1st Test at The Gabba, Amla scored 104, and shared a 165 run 3rd wicket partnership with Jacques Kallis. Amla and Kallis are the most prolific partnership in South Africa's test match history. In the 3rd Test at the WACA, Amla scored 196 in the 2nd innings in a match winning, series clinching effort. Together with Graeme Smith, their 2nd wicket stand of 178 in 25 overs turned the game in South Africa's favor. Amla scored 99 runs in the post tea session alone, while his century came up in 87 balls.

2013

During bilateral series against New Zealand in January 2013, Amla was requested to lead the team due to suspension of regular captain AB de Villiers for 2 matches due to slow overrate, that Amla declined requesting to be left to "concentrate on his batting".

Dean Jones controversy

During a Test match between South Africa and Sri Lanka on 7 August 2006, Australian TEN Sports commentator Dean Jones referred to Amla as a "terrorist" after he had taken a catch; after incorrectly assuming that broadcasting switched to a commercial break, he had said "The terrorist gets another wicket". The broadcast was aired around the world, including South Africa, and he was subsequently widely condemned by South African fans, players and several former cricketers and commentators, leading to the channel terminating its contract with Jones. After the incident Jones reportedly apologized to Amla, stating that his comments were never "supposed to be heard over the air", which he accepted.

Achievements and milestones

• Fastest man to reach 2000 runs in ODIs (40 Innings).
• Fastest man to reach 3000 runs in ODIs (59 Innings).
• Fastest man to reach 4000 runs in ODIs (81 Innings).
• First South African to score Triple century in Test Matches.
• Only man in history to score a 1000 runs in both Tests and ODIs in the same calendar (2010).
• Hashim Amla & AB de Villers hold the highest partnership for South Africa (238 runs) which is also the highest 3rd wicket stand in One day International Cricket.
• Fastest cricketer to reach 10 centuries in ODI's, requiring 23 matches less than Indian batsman Virat Kohli.