An elegant, stroke-filled player blessed with the temperament to make the most of his talent, Hashim Amla is the first South African of Indian descent to reach the national squad - his grandparents migrated from Gujarat - and he shares the penchant for wristy leg-side flicks that ooze off his bat. His elevation to the South Africa side was a poorly kept secret after he reeled off four centuries in his first eight innings of the 2004-05 season, after being appointed captain of the Dolphins (formerly Natal) at the tender age of 21. His older brother by four years, Ahmed, made his first-class debut two seasons before Hashim, but there is little doubt that the younger Amla is the better player. He is also a devout Muslim whose requests to have logos promoting alcohol removed from his playing gear have been successful so far. Amla toured New Zealand with the South African Under-19 team in 2000-01, he captained South Africa at the 2002 Under-19 World Cup, and after starring for the A team, made his Test debut against India in 2004-05. He was not an instant success, with serious questions emerging about his technique as he mustered 36 runs in four innings against England later that season.
When he was handed a second chance he made it count with 149 against New Zealand at Cape Town, helping guide South Africa to a draw. He remained a consistent performer, if not as prolific as South Africa would like, with fifties against Pakistan in 2007, but saved his best for the following tour to India where he racked up 307 runs in the three Tests. It included a majestic 159 in Chennai, his second score of 150 or more, and was followed by a pugnacious 81 in the second innings, in conditions trying thanks to the weather, the pitch, the attack and the vociferous home crowd. In the summer of 2008, he got his name on the honours board at Lord's with a sublime century, and in the process silenced all whimpers about his pedigree for the longest version. Still, doubts remained over his ability in the shorter formats, and while Twenty20 cricket was never going to be his strong point, he developed a remarkable appetite for ODI excellence, when given an extended run in the side. He contributed crucial fifties during South Africa's heist of Australia in 2008/09, but his inability to convert them into big knocks meant the likes of AB de Villiers and JP Duminy stole the headlines. Amla righted that with a couple of big scores in the ODI series that followed, as Australia were humbled in all formats at home. A consistent run of scores followed before a strong home series against England. Then came the magnum opus tour of India where the hosts threw everything at him, but could not find a way past or around his monk-like patience and ability to soak pressure. He followed that with a string of big knocks in the ODI series in West Indies, and is already looked upon as Jacques Kallis' successor in the role of middle-order bulwark.
A quiet man, there is no doubting Amla's immense hunger for runs. He remains a candidate to become South Africa's second non-white Test captain after Ashwell Prince, and possesses the most impressive beard in all the game.
When he was handed a second chance he made it count with 149 against New Zealand at Cape Town, helping guide South Africa to a draw. He remained a consistent performer, if not as prolific as South Africa would like, with fifties against Pakistan in 2007, but saved his best for the following tour to India where he racked up 307 runs in the three Tests. It included a majestic 159 in Chennai, his second score of 150 or more, and was followed by a pugnacious 81 in the second innings, in conditions trying thanks to the weather, the pitch, the attack and the vociferous home crowd. In the summer of 2008, he got his name on the honours board at Lord's with a sublime century, and in the process silenced all whimpers about his pedigree for the longest version. Still, doubts remained over his ability in the shorter formats, and while Twenty20 cricket was never going to be his strong point, he developed a remarkable appetite for ODI excellence, when given an extended run in the side. He contributed crucial fifties during South Africa's heist of Australia in 2008/09, but his inability to convert them into big knocks meant the likes of AB de Villiers and JP Duminy stole the headlines. Amla righted that with a couple of big scores in the ODI series that followed, as Australia were humbled in all formats at home. A consistent run of scores followed before a strong home series against England. Then came the magnum opus tour of India where the hosts threw everything at him, but could not find a way past or around his monk-like patience and ability to soak pressure. He followed that with a string of big knocks in the ODI series in West Indies, and is already looked upon as Jacques Kallis' successor in the role of middle-order bulwark.
A quiet man, there is no doubting Amla's immense hunger for runs. He remains a candidate to become South Africa's second non-white Test captain after Ashwell Prince, and possesses the most impressive beard in all the game.
Full name Hashim Mahomed Amla
Born March 31, 1983, Durban, Natal
Current age 27 years 237 days
Major teams South Africa, Dolphins, Essex, KwaZulu-Natal
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm medium, Right-arm offbreak
Relation Brother - AM Amla
Born March 31, 1983, Durban, Natal
Current age 27 years 237 days
Major teams South Africa, Dolphins, Essex, KwaZulu-Natal
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm medium, Right-arm offbreak
Relation Brother - AM Amla
Batting and fielding averages
Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 4s 6s Ct St
Tests 47 83 7 3581 253* 47.11 7327 48.87 11 17 444 3 39 0
ODIs 37 36 4 1906 140 59.56 2041 93.38 6 10 190 11 16 0
T20Is 2 2 0 52 26 26.00 50 104.00 0 0 4 1 0 0
First-class 134 223 21 9886 253* 48.94 30 49 102 0
List A 90 88 6 3525 140 42.98 9 21 36 0
Twenty20 26 25 0 555 57 22.20 497 111.67 0 2 66 6 3 0
Bowling averages
Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10
Tests 47 4 42 28 0 - - - 4.00 - 0 0 0
ODIs 37 - - - - - - - - - - - -
T20Is 2 - - - - - - - - - - - -
First-class 134 315 224 1 1/10 224.00 4.26 315.0 0 0 0
List A 90 16 28 0 - - - 10.50 - 0 0 0
Twenty20 26 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Career statistics
Test debut India v South Africa at Kolkata, Nov 28-Dec 2, 2004
Last Test Pakistan v South Africa at Dubai, Nov 12-16, 2010
ODI debut Bangladesh v South Africa at Chittagong, Mar 9, 2008
Last ODI Pakistan v South Africa at Dubai, Nov 8, 2010
Last ODI Pakistan v South Africa at Dubai, Nov 8, 2010
T20I debut Australia v South Africa at Brisbane, Jan 13, 2009
Last T20I South Africa v Australia at Johannesburg, Mar 27, 2009
Last T20I South Africa v Australia at Johannesburg, Mar 27, 2009
First-class debut 1999/00
Last First-class Pakistan v South Africa at Dubai, Nov 12-16, 2010
List A debut 2001/02
Last List A Pakistan v South Africa at Dubai, Nov 8, 2010
Twenty20 debut Western Province Boland v Dolphins at Cape Town, Apr 7, 2004
Last Twenty20 South Africa v Australia at Johannesburg, Mar 27, 2009
Last First-class Pakistan v South Africa at Dubai, Nov 12-16, 2010
List A debut 2001/02
Last List A Pakistan v South Africa at Dubai, Nov 8, 2010
Twenty20 debut Western Province Boland v Dolphins at Cape Town, Apr 7, 2004
Last Twenty20 South Africa v Australia at Johannesburg, Mar 27, 2009
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