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CSA Wishes Legend Hashim Amla Well In Retirement

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JOHANNESBURG: Cricket South Africa (CSA) has paid tribute to one of the greatest batters to grace the country, Hashim Amla, following his retirement from the sport on Wednesday.

The 39-year-old played the last of his 349 matches across all three formats for the Proteas in 2019 when he stepped away from the international game. However, he continued to play domestically and most recently turned out for Surrey, who he helped win the English County Championship.

Amla made more than 18 000 runs for South Africa, including 55 centuries during an international career that spanned 15 years. At the time of retirement, he was the only Protea to have scored a triple century in Test cricket – an innings of 311 not out against England at The Oval in mid-2012 and a record that he still holds.

The Durban-born player, who also captained the South Africa team briefly, is second behind Jacques Kallis in terms of Test runs for the country (9,282) and 15th on the overall list.

“Hashim Amla will go down as one of the greatest batsmen to have ever played the game,” CSA Chief Executive Officer, Pholetsi Moseki said. “His numbers are amongst the best and he was a class apart, entertaining people all over the world with that exquisite cover drive.

“Hashim was an absolute legend. His story is one that inspires and will continue to inspire many. Not only was he an outstanding cricketer, but he is also an incredible and humble human being, who touched the heart of everyone he met. We at CSA would like to wish him all the best in his retirement.”

Cricket came to South Africa during the Napoleonic Wars and with the British forces occupying South Africa. The first match recorded was in 1808 in Cape Town between two service teams, for a prize of one thousand rix-dollars.

The oldest cricket club in South Africa is the Port Elizabeth Cricket Club, founded in 1843. Few clubs in the world can boast such a long existence. The first championship was held in Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha) in 1876 for the “champion bat.” Competing teams were Cape Town, Grahamstown, King Williams Town, and Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha). It was won by King Williams Town and the year after that too.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.