Hashim Amla facts for kids

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Hashim Amla

Amla training with South Africa in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Hashim Mahomed Amla
Born	(1983-03-31) 31 March 1983 (age 42) Durban, Natal Province, South Africa
Nickname	Hash
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm off break
Role	Top-order batter
Relations	Ahmed Amla (brother)
International information
National side	South Africa (2004–2019)
Test debut (cap 295)	28 November 2004 v India
Last Test	21 February 2019 v Sri Lanka
ODI debut (cap 90)	9 March 2008 v Bangladesh
Last ODI	28 June 2019 v Sri Lanka
ODI shirt no.	90 and 1
T20I debut (cap 38)	13 January 2009 v Australia
Last T20I	14 August 2018 v Sri Lanka
T20I shirt no.	1
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1999/00–2008/09	KwaZulu-Natal
2003/04–2012/13	Dolphins
2009	Essex
2010	Nottinghamshire
2013–2014, 2020-2022	Surrey
2013/14–2018/19	Cape Cobras
2015	Derbyshire
2016–2017	Kings XI Punjab
2016	Trinbago Knight Riders
2018	Hampshire
2018	Barbados Tridents
2018	Durban Heat
2019/20	Khulna Tigers
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI T20I FC Matches 124 181 44 265 Runs scored 9,282 8,113 1,277 19,521 Batting average 46.64 49.46 33.60 48.55 100s/50s 28/41 27/39 0/8 57/93 Top score 311* 159 97* 311* Balls bowled 54 – – 393 Wickets 0 – 0 1 Bowling average – – – 277.00 5 wickets in innings 0 – 0 0 10 wickets in match 0 – 0 0 Best bowling – – – 1/10 Catches/stumpings 108/– 87/– 19/– 192/–
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 5 February 2023

Hashim Mahomed Amla OIS (born 31 March 1983) is a former South African international cricketer. He was known as a top-order batsman who played for and captained the national team in Tests and ODIs. Many people consider him one of the greatest batsmen to have played for South Africa.

Amla holds several records for being the fastest to score a certain number of runs in ODIs. He was the quickest to reach 3,000, 4,000, 6,000, and 7,000 ODI runs. He also became the fastest cricketer to score 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 25, and 27 ODI centuries.

As a right-handed batsman, he holds the record for the highest individual Test score by any South African. He scored an amazing 311 not out against England in July 2012. He is also one of only four players to score ODI centuries against all Test-playing countries.

Hashim Amla was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 2013. He retired from international cricket on 8 August 2019, and from all forms of cricket on 18 January 2023.

Personal Life

Amla at fielding practice in Adelaide, January 2009

Hashim Amla was born in Durban, South Africa. He is a devoted Muslim. His family has Indian roots; his grandfather moved to South Africa from Surat, India, in 1927.

Amla grew up in a middle-class home and attended Durban High School. This school is also where famous cricketers like Lance Klusener and Barry Richards studied. Hashim's older brother, Ahmed Amla, was also a professional cricketer. They even played together for the KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins. Hashim Amla is married to Sumaiyah, and they have two children.

Early Years in Cricket

After finishing high school, Hashim Amla quickly impressed everyone with his cricket skills. He made his debut for his home team, the KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins. He even became the captain of the South Africa team at the 2002 Under-19 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand, leading them to the final match.

During his younger years, Hylton Ackerman, a former captain and coach, played a big part in Amla's development. Ackerman was the first to spot Amla's talent and helped him improve his game. Because of his great promise, Amla was made captain of KwaZulu-Natal at just 21 years old. Many people believed he would one day captain the South African national team. In 2013, Amla moved from the Dolphins to the Cape Cobras team.

Playing for Clubs and T20 Teams

Hashim Amla played for many different cricket teams around the world. He played for the Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

In 2016, he joined the Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He became a very important player for their batting lineup. He scored two centuries (100 runs or more) and three half-centuries (50 runs or more) for the team. Even though he played very well, he was not picked in the 2018 IPL auction.

In October 2018, he joined the Durban Heat for the first Mzansi Super League Twenty20 tournament. Later, he also became a batting mentor for the Peshawar Zalmi team in the Pakistan Super League. In April 2021, he was named in the Western Province squad for the 2021–22 cricket season in South Africa.

International Career

After becoming captain of the Dolphins, Amla started the 2004–2005 South African domestic season strongly, scoring four centuries in his first eight innings. His success led to him being chosen for the South Africa tour of Africa in 2004. At 21, he became the first South African of Indian descent to play for the national team.

Amla made his international debut on 28 November 2004, in Kolkata, India. He had a slow start, but he worked hard to improve his skills. In 2006, he showed his talent by scoring 149 runs against New Zealand in Cape Town, helping South Africa draw the match. This success earned him a national contract. He scored 1599 runs in his next 19 Tests, averaging 57.10, and became South Africa's regular number 3 batsman.

In 2008, Amla had a very successful year, scoring 1012 runs with many centuries against India, England, and Australia. During South Africa's 2009 tour of Australia, Amla helped his team win a historic Test and one-day series.

Amla also played county cricket in England for several teams, including Essex (2009), Nottinghamshire (2010), Surrey (2013), and Derbyshire (2015).

2010: A Strong Year

Amla started 2010 with a Test series against India. In the first Test, he scored an amazing 253 runs without being out. South Africa won that match easily. In the second Test, he scored another century, 114 runs, but India won the game.

He then toured the West Indies, where he scored three centuries in the One Day International (ODI) series. He continued his excellent form in a series against Zimbabwe, scoring two more centuries. Later, against Pakistan, he scored another century, 119 runs, helping South Africa win a close match. For his great performances in 2010 and 2011, the International Cricket Council (ICC) named him in the World Test XI (a team of the best Test players).

2012: Triple Century and Records

During South Africa's tour of England, Amla made history. He scored 311 runs without being out in the first Test match. This was the highest Test score ever by a South African player and the country's first triple century! He achieved this while fasting during Ramadan. South Africa won the match, and Amla was named man of the match.

He continued his great form, scoring his 16th Test century in the third Test. South Africa won the series and became the top-ranked Test team in the world. In the ODI series that followed, he scored a career-best 150 runs against England.

Later, in Australia, Amla scored 104 runs in the first Test. In the third Test, he scored 196 runs, helping South Africa win the match and the series. For his amazing performances in 2012, he was again named in the World Test XI by the ICC and ESPNcricinfo. He was also included in the ODI XI of the year.

2013-2017: Captaincy and Milestones

In 2013, Amla was asked to captain the team for a few matches, but he preferred to focus on his batting. He continued to play well and was named in both the World Test XI and ODI XI by the ICC for 2013.

In June 2014, Amla became South Africa's first permanent non-white Test captain. He led his team to a historic victory against Sri Lanka in his first Test series as captain.

In January 2016, Amla stepped down as captain. This decision came after a period of poor form for him and the team. However, he still scored a double century in his last match as captain.

On 12 January 2017, Amla played his 100th Test match, becoming the eighth South African to reach this milestone. In this special match, he scored his 26th Test century, becoming only the second South African, after Graeme Smith, to score a century in their 100th Test.

2019 Cricket World Cup and Retirement

In April 2019, Hashim Amla was chosen for South Africa's squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup. During the tournament, he became the second-fastest batsman to score 8,000 runs in ODIs.

On 8 August 2019, Amla announced his retirement from all international cricket. After retiring, he joined the Cape Town Blitz team as a batting consultant. He also served as a batting mentor for the Peshawar Zalmi team in the Pakistan Super League in 2020.

Coaching Career

In August 2023, Hashim Amla was appointed as a batting coach for the Johannesburg-based Lions cricket team for three years.

International Centuries

As of January 2019, Hashim Amla scored 28 centuries in Test matches and 27 centuries in One Day Internationals (ODIs).

Achievements and Milestones

• Fastest player to reach 3,000, 4,000, 5,000, 6,000, and 7,000 runs in ODIs.
• The first and only South African batsman to score a triple-century (300 runs or more) in Test matches.
• Scored 1,000 runs in both Tests and ODIs in the same year (2010).
• Holds the highest ODI partnership for any wicket for South Africa with Faf du Plessis (247 runs).
• His partnership of 308 runs with AB de Villiers is the record fourth-wicket partnership for South Africa in a Test match.
• Holds the record for the highest fifth-wicket partnership in Twenty20 cricket (150 runs) with Dwayne Bravo.
• First South African batsman to score 25 centuries in ODIs.
• One of only four cricketers to score 25 centuries in both Test and ODI cricket.
• With Quinton de Kock, he set the highest ODI partnership for any wicket for South Africa (282 runs) without losing a wicket.

See also

In Spanish: Hashim Amla para niños

• List of cricketers by number of international centuries scored