Calm Amla could prove vital to Knight Riders’ batting lineup
Tuesday, June 21 2016
The People’s Newspaper continues to profile the players of the reigning champions Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) as the countdown continues for the start of the 2016 Caribbean Premier League. Newsday and the TKR franchise have formed a partnership which would see Newsday getting behind-thescenes access to the players of the TKR and its support staff for the duration of the CPL .
Fans can expect in-depth coverage of the Trinbago Knight Riders players, their off-field activities, previews and of course match reports. The Trinbago Knight Riders open their season against the St Lucia Zouks on June 29 at the Queen’s Park Oval, St Clair .
The classiest, calmest man on a cricket field, Hashim Amla’s name is etched in South African cricket history. With his wristy leg-side flick and serene cover drive, Amla became the first South African to score a triple century in Test cricket, while also effectively shifting gears to become the fastest batsman to 2,000 (40 innings), 3,000 (57 innings), 4,000 (81 innings) and 5,000 (101 innings) runs in ODI cricket .
Amla’s career began at Durban High School, the alma mater of Lance Klusener and Barry Richards, and a world away from his brother, Ahmed .
After a successful school career, Amla toured New Zealand with the South African Under-19 team in 2000-01 and captained them at the 2002 Under-19 World Cup .
After reeling off four centuries in his first eight innings of the 2004-05 season he was picked to play for South Africa against India .
He was not an instant success, with serious questions emerging about his technique and his back lift, in particular, 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 South Africa to a draw. He remained a consistent performer, even if not as prolific as South Africa would have liked .
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, but Amla corrected that in 2010. He scored over 1,000 runs in both Test and ODI cricket .
In the two-Test series, he scored 490 runs and was dismissed just once. In ODIs, he combined quick scoring with stunning consistency, scoring five centuries and four fifties in 15 innings, all the while scoring at over a run a ball, which saw him rise to No.1 in the ODI rankings that year .
He was promoted to South Africa’s leadership core when he was named vice-captain of the ODI and T20 international teams in June 2011, and later that year, scored centuries in both Tests South Africa played against Australia at home .
But Amla’s crowning moment came the following year, when he got South Africa’s quest to become the No.1-ranked Test team off to an epic start, spending 13 hours and 10 minutes at the Oval crease crafting a triple hundred, and not even needing a change of gloves .
In February 2013, Amla was the ICC’s top-ranked Test batsman .
He had also decided to keep away from captaincy promotions, and stepped down as the limited- overs vice-captain .
That was why it came as a surprise when, less than 18 months later, Amla accepted the Test captaincy. Amla had taken over a team in transition and South Africa’s struggles came in 2015 .
The New Year’s Test of 2016 brought a change of fortune as he scored a double hundred, having decided to give up captaincy. He announced that he was stepping down after the Test was drawn .
For Trinbago Knight Riders, Amla is set to open the innings, and if he does so with Brendon McCullum, it could be on of its kind opening pair .
Amla may play the sheet anchor role but he can change gears if needed be .
In the ongoing tri-series between Australia-South Africa and West Indies, Amla has exhibited brilliant adaptability to the conditions, and TKR will be hoping that he continues the same when he done Red and Black .
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