OTD| South Africa’s star batter Hashim Amla was born today in 1983

In this article, we will discuss On This Day, South Africa’s star batter Hashim Amla was born today in 1983 his performances made waves in the domestic circuit. On March 31, 1983, South Africa was blessed with someone who would go on to become one of the nation’s greatest batters.

Even while he was quite young, his natural abilities and performances made waves in the domestic circuit. Representing the KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins, he made a name for himself and it wasn’t long until he caught the eye of the national selectors. Soon enough, he was part of the country’s U-19 setup and eventually captained the national side at the 20002 U-19 World Cup. He made the most of this opportunity, leading the Proteas to the summit clash of the marquee event. 

He continued to rack up truckloads of runs at the domestic level and eventually earned a senior side call-up. He was handed a Test debut in November 2004. He didn’t have an immediate impact and had to go back to the domestic arena to hone his skills. However, in 2006, he made a comeback to the side and made it count, solidifying his position for the next few years.

He excelled in Tests and ODIs, amassing a staggering number of runs throughout his career. In Test cricket, he became the only South African batsman to score a triple century, a monumental feat that he achieved against a strong England attack in 2012. In ODIs, he batted at a different level altogether, breaking records on a regular basis. He holds the record for being the fastest batsman to reach several milestones in Test cricket, including 3000, 4000, 6000, 7000 and 8000 runs. Previously, he also held the same record for 2000 and 5000 runs but the likes of Shubman Gill and Babar Azam have now made those records their own.

As such, Amla’s ability to adapt to different formats while maintaining his consistency was a testament to his exceptional skills. Overall, he scored 9282 runs in Tests and 8113 runs in ODIs, including 55 centuries. He also represented South Africa in 44 T20Is, scoring 1277 runs, with a tally of 8 half-centuries. 

Amla also captained South Africa and in fact had some great moments as a leader. He led South Africa to a historic series win vs Sri Lanka back in 2014. He also had a two-year stint in the IPL, in which he represented the Kings XI Punjab. He had two pretty good seasons but was still overlooked in 2018.

Hashim Amla’s legacy extends far beyond the number of runs he scored on the field. He is an inspiration to aspiring cricketers courtesy of his calm demeanour, sportsmanship and conduct. Amla’s conduct on and off the field has been exemplary, making him a role model for youngsters across the globe.

In 2019, after a glorious career spanning 15 years, Hashim Amla announced his retirement from international cricket. However, he continues to serve the game in coaching capacities and the cricketing world eagerly awaits his future contributions to the sport.