Hashim the Great

Hashim Amla, the bearded rock of Durban, became the first South African to score 300 in a Test match as the Proteas won the first Test again England at the Oval on Monday.

In an outstanding knock, Amla showed the skills and patience which are becoming rarer and rarer in the cricket world. With the rise of T20 cricket, batsmen seek to rather attack than defend, and even if they chose to defend, techniques today against the very best bowling aren’t what they used to be. Sure, he could’ve been snaffled on 299 and after he passed the 300 mark, but those details will belong to the footnote of history as its headline will be the bearded wonder going where no South African has gone before.

Amla is arguably the most improved batsman in world cricket, considering that his first few Tests were marked by a weakness outside his off stump and a backlift that created its own set of problems. After being dropped, he went back to domestic cricket and worked on these failings, and once he was recalled, has never looked back.

Amla has become the world’s best number three and shown his adaptability by becoming also a feared opening batsman in ODI cricket. He is an extremely popular figure in South Africa due to his skill, his apparent modesty and clean image, which serves to attract youngsters to the game since Amla appears to think of nothing else but cricket when on the field. Off the field, he is reported to be man of knowledge and humour, which given the serene way he plays the game with bat in hand, makes all the more sense.

He will continue his friendly rivalry with AB de Villiers as to who the lead batsman in South Africa’s middle order will be following the retirement of Jacques Kallis. For a Proteas fan, it’s damn good news.

Speaking of Kallis, he again showed why he is the best all-rounder the game has ever seen (Gary Sobers arguably being his only equal). He took valuable wickets and made another hundred at the Oval, overshadowed by Amla’s knock but just as valuable (as was Graeme Smith’s hundred in his 100th Test match).

It was a special performance from South Africa who were given carrots for being under-prepared on Day 1. How the world turns in four days.