One of South Africa's greatest ever batsmen, Hashim Amla, announced his retirement from international cricket this week. After a lengthy international career, Amla bows out at 36 years with 124 Test caps, 181 ODI caps and 44 T20I caps for the Proteas. Here we take a glance at some of his iconic knocks.
100 vs England, Centurion 2009
Under the pump against a world-class attack on a deteriorating wicket, Amla dug in with AB de Villiers to lift South Africa out from the ruckus. Amla's technique had been questioned several times early in his career, but this knocked silenced a lot of critics for the sheer temperament he displayed.
An epic India tour of 2010
Perhaps Amla's legendary status began from this tour where he averaged a whopping 490. The South African made 253 walking in at 6/2 at Nagpur in the first Test to set up an innings victory. India won the next game at Eden Gardens but they faced a stiff challenge from Amla who made twin tons - 114 and 123*. His second innings effort dragged on for 394 balls and nearly gave South Africa a draw and a series win.
Triple ton vs England at The Oval
At The Oval in 2012, Amla made the first-ever triple hundred by a South African batsman. In the month of Ramadan, Amla fought tough conditions and a competitive bowling attack to bat for 13 long hours. He made 311 sharing double-century stands with Jacques Kallis and Graeme Smith.
150 in ODIs vs England in 2012
Hashim Amla was always seen as a good ODI player. His ground shots and ability to score at a strike rate of 90 or mo,re despite lacking the big hits. was often appreciated. But his best ODI innings came in the year of his triple ton in England itself. A superb 150 on opening the batting at Southampton is perhaps Amla's finest ever One Day International innings.
196 vs Australia at Perth
South Africa were well and truly ahead in the game when Amla walked in to bat for this Test match at Perth. But in carrying forward the momentum and driving home the advantage Amla played a pivotal role. He was unimaginably fluent and scored pretty quickly to send the Aussies on a leather hunt. Unusually, Amla was dominating the bowling attack like never before and made 196 before falling short of a double-ton.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Ishara S. Kodikara
