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Hashim Amla - Ugly technique but plenty of runs

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Cricket-mad Andrew Hughes on why a player who is anything but pleasing on the eye can become one of the most prolific runscorers in Test cricket

If you believe in the concept of value then every outcome, however improbable, has its price. In theory, there is a point at which the odds on New Zealand squaring the series in the second Test at Centurion (currently 9.2 and rising) would become backable. But such is the Black Caps disarray, I wouldn't touch them at much less than (20.0) In the 1st Test at Johannesburg, the dire prophecies about their batting came true as their flimsy top order was twice taken apart by the South African pacemen, for a combined total of 290.

And in between the demolitions, the home side constructed one monumental batting partnership that was enough to win the match. At 20-2, with a first innings lead of 108, South Africa were wobbling and New Zealand were stirring again, like Wile E Coyote at the bottom of a canyon. Then Jacques Kallis proceeded to rack up a massive 186 and the inevitable anvil fell onto New Zealand heads.

But Kallis didn't do it alone. His accomplice was 24-year-old Hashim Amla. Dropped on 2, he proceeded to build an innings of 179 that was as ugly as it was crucial. It isn't the first time. Against Pakistan and India last year, he chipped in with vital half centuries. The bespectacled young Amla, with the longest beard to Grace the game since the Good Doctor is getting a reputation for stickability.

A devout Muslim, he has been a much-debated cricketer. There have been suggestions that he owes his place in the team to the quota system. He has had his technique savaged. He has also been called 'The Terrorist' by one Dean Jones (another glorious chapter in the history of Australian diplomacy). But Amla has neither asked for nor deserved this controversy.

His consistent domestic form argues for his continued selection. It is true that his technique is not for the purists. He crouches and shuffles at the crease, his bat coming down from somewhere in the direction of gully, frequently plays with his bat away from his body, sometimes only moves his feet as an afterthought and generally exhibits all the confidence of a mouse at a cat show. His batting repertoire appears to consist of jabs, bunts and checked pushes and a Test average of 31.10 with a strike rate of 43.53 hardly inspires.

But then in the midst of all this stodginess, he is capable of unleashing a glorious drive to rattle the long off boundary or an immaculately timed flick off his pads through midwicket. Born and raised in South Africa, his wristy batting style is entirely south Asian and he can play shots of such assurance and touch that you can only ponder on what he might be capable of.

Perhaps his cautious batting style is merely the result of his determination to make the most of his talent, a determination that saw him resign the Natal captaincy in 2005 to concentrate on his batting and which was amply demonstrated on the third day at Johannesburg. In sight of his double century, with a declaration in the offing, he resisted the temptation to make a dash for it and continued to bat sensibly according to the conditions. That suggests a young batsman with tremendous reserves of patience and willpower who is in the game for the long haul. I genuinely believe we could be looking at one of the most prolific batsmen the game has seen for a long time. This winter will give him an opportunity of an extended run in the Test side and I wouldn't be surprised if he ended as top scorer in this series.

As for the Second Test itself, it might be worth backing the draw at (4.2). Inept as New Zealand have been, thunderstorms are forecast for days three, four and five and with Kallis, Amla and Prince being relatively slow scorers, South Africa might find it hard to score the runs they need quickly enough to secure a 2-0 series win.

To read more about Hashim Amla go to:

http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/southafrica/content/player/43906.html

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