Hashim Amla Scales a Rare Peak for South Africa, Reaches 9000 Test Runs

South African cricket isn’t the one to be submerged in a state of crisis. But in recent times, there’ve been a few concerns that they’ve had to live with. The constant state of injuries to Dale Steyn has been a problem with the pace department, lucky then that there’s Kagiso Rabada around.

What’s hurt them the most after Jack Kallis’ retirement is the recent shocker that stunned an entire world, not least of all, South Africa. AB de Villiers’ sudden retirement with the ICC Cricket World cup around wasn’t a good omen anyways.

To top it up, the Faf Du Plessis-led side suddenly found themselves on a dubious list; that of being amongst the scorers of the lowest score in a Test inning. 73 all out at Galle was something none would’ve seen coming, let alone imagine their worst nightmares.

But as struggling South Africa remains keeps its head buried in the solving the problems posed by the Sri Lankan spinners- Dilruwan Perera and Rangana Herath- with Akila Dhananjaya joining in the chorus- the only respite seems to have been provided by Hashim Amla.

Scoring a single off a dropped catch on Herath’s bowling, as Amla scampered for a quick run on Day 2 of the Second Test, he’d climb an important landmark and give the waning South Africans something to cheer about. In so doing, he’d become only the third South African batsman to reach 9000 Test runs.

Even legends like Darrel Cullinan, Gary Kirsten and, AB De Villiers haven’t managed to reach the remarkable tally of 9000 Test runs.

This isn’t any lame achievement; it’s a mighty landmark and one that only a few in the game have scaled. Against a struggling background of South Africa battling to save themselves after the Lankans put on 338, Elgar and Markram already in the dugout- it would come down to Hashim Amla and captain, Faf du Plessis to steady the ship.

And with the score reading 65-3, nearly a 40-run stand between the experienced pros seeming to better their score, Hashim Amla seemed in a somewhat comfortable zone. But there’s more.

What would matter a great deal, without doubt, is if Amla, before lunch, batting on 16 could go on to strike a big knock? Currently, sitting third behind stalwarts of the game from South Africa- Jack Kallis and Graeme Smith- two of his former illustrious colleagues the math surrounding Hashim Amla is relatively simple.

Should South Africa give themselves a chance of bailing themselves out in a Sri Lankan territory that is only exacerbating their troubles, it cannot come down alone to the bowlers to muster a fight. Now’s the time for Amla and Faf to deliver.

The only problem, however, in that is that while Faf played a dogged inning of 49 in the rather forgettable First Test- a rare occasion where the Proteas failed to score 200 in either innings-Amla couldn’t even compile 20. This included a golden duck in the second inning.

He is amongst the few players who hold the fan to his seat in a format that’s beginning to lose its audience to T20s and ever more so in the contemporary structure of the game.

With his soft hands, great footwork, excellent hand-eye coordination and, feathery stroke-play, Hashim Amla is a great reservoir of patience for South Africa. And above all, one of their key strengths in the current structure of the game, where the shock exit of De Villiers has left the side in a spot of bother.

That Faf alone cannot rescue South Africa every time, it is up to the likes of a somewhat rusty Hashim Amla and clearly, an out of form de Kock to save the embattled team. The question is, can the iconic right-hander carry South Africa’s hopes ahead?