Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Hashim Amla

Hashim Amla has made a meteoric rise up the batting rankings in both Test match and ODI cricket over the course of the past 5 years and is currently ranked No. 4 in both categories. He has scored 20 of his 21 Test match centuries during that period and another 11 in the limited overs format.

He has developed something of a love affair with the country of his ancestors during that period, making 4 Test centuries in India. Three of these came in the 2010 series when he made what was then a career best 253 not out in the Proteas’ win by an innings at Nagpur and then another two in the following match at Eden Gardens.

Here’s a list of things you may have or may not have known about Hashim Amla:

1.  Hashim Amla is  right-handed top order batsman and occasional medium-pace bowler, Amla bats at number 3 for South Africa in Test matches and has opened in limited overscontests.
2. Hashim Amla is currently ranked by the International Cricket Council as the world’s number 4 batsman in Test and One Day Internationals (ODIs).
3. Amla became the first South African to score a Test match triple century when he scored 311 not out against England in 2012. In the 57th innings of his one-day international career, Amla became the fastest batsman to score 3,000 ODI runs, requiring 12 innings fewer than Sir Vivian Richards.
4. Born to a South African Indian Muslim family, which has roots in Gujarat,Amla is a devout practising Muslim.
5. Hashim Amla’s elder brother, Ahmed Amla, was also a professional cricketer, having made his debut two years earlier than Hashim, and went on to captain the Dolphins.
6. Upon graduating from Durban High School and impressing on the youth circuit, Hashim Amla made his debut for his provincial team, theKwaZulu Natal Dolphins, soon captaining South Africa at the 2002 Under-19 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand, leading his team to the final.
7. Hashim Amla & AB De Villers hold the highest partnership for South Africa (238 runs) which is also the highest 3rd wicket stand in One day International Cricket.
8. Hashim Amla holds the record for fastest cricketer to reach 10 centuries in ODI’s, requiring 23 matches less than Indian batsman Virat Kohli.
9. Hashim also holds the record for being the fastest to achieve 15 ODI Centuries (89 matches).
10.  His nickname is Hash.