Batting: Right hand batsman
Bowling: Right arm medium/off-break
Hashim Amla completed his 6000th One Day International run in his 126th match (against India in October) which made him the quickest player to that milestone since the shorter format commenced in 1971.
Although he battled in the test series against India in 2015/2016 with an average of 16.85 on pitches described by a former Australian batsman Glen Maxwell as diabolical, the South African captain still boasts a remarkable test average of 50.64. His conversion rate of 23 tons in 88 tests is sensational.
The South African skipper was in superb form for the Proteas in the 2014/2015-series against the West Indies, smashing 208 at SuperSport Park and finishing with 342 runs in the series.
He compiled a sumptuous century at the Wanderers against the tourists in South Africa’s 439 for two in the One Day Internationals.
In the traditional off-season, Amla struck a composed 124 off 126 balls to set up a 20-run win for the hosts against New Zealand at SuperSport Park.
Amla captained South Africa at the 2002 Under-19 World Cup, and made his test debut in the 2004/2005-season. The young number-3 player was not an instant success. He managed only 36 runs in four innings against England.
Upon his return to the SA team, he scored 149 against New Zealand in Cape Town in 2006 to resurrect his SA test career.
An elegant stroke-player with immense powers of concentration and excellent use of the wrists, perhaps the greatest amendment made to his technique was a more abbreviated back-swing, which assisted his evolution to an all-time SA great.
On the tour to India he managed 158 in Chennai and 81 in the second innings.
On the SA tour to England in 2008, the Proteas recorded only their first test-series win against the old foe on England soil since 1965. Amla managed a century at Lord’s to get his name on the honours board.
Amla contributed half-centuries in South Africa’s series win against Australia in 2008/2009 in the One Day Internationals and when given an extended run in this format, the right-hander showed his class with sustained excellence.
The year 2010 proved to a his annus mirabilis, as Amla scored 1000 runs in tests and ODIs at an average of more than 75-plus in both formats.
He scored 490 runs in the two-test series against India and was dismissed only once.
The stylish number-3 batsman was colossal in the first test against England at The Oval in 2012 by becoming the first South African to score a triple century. He made 311 not out.
During the Proteas’ second test-series win Down Under at the end of 2012, Amla was a standout-performer. His 104 in the first test in Brisbane and 196 in the third at the WACA contributed richly to the series triumph.
Amla became the fastest batsman to score 4000 ODI runs in December 2013, requiring eight innings fewer than Sir Vivian Richards. In the same year, Amla became the first batsman since Ricky Ponting to head both Tests and ODI rankings at the same time in the latest ICC charts.
He was named one of Wisden’s cricketers of the year in 2013.
In 2014, Amla succeeded Graeme Smith as South African test captain.
In his first test series following his appointment, Amla led South Africa to a 1-0 test series win on Sri Lankan soil, the first time in 21 years.
Features of his play as a top-order batsman are his ability to pick up the length quickly and to score freely on both sides of the wicket with splendid use of his wrists.
His conversion rate in both tests and ODIS is remarkable. Amla has managed 23 centuries in 84 tests, and 21 tons in 126 ODI-games for the Proteas..
