Hashim Amla - the silent warrior

I think I have done a post on the Mighty Hash on my phone notepad, but I felt another post was necessary.

Last week I had a conversation with an ignoramus who stated that "Hashim Amla was never a limited overs batsman", I mean ??????? The Mighty Hash, NOT a limited overs batsman??

Just because Hash went about his business silently, does not make him any less of a batsman than those who make a noise about things. Yes, sure, Hashim Amla was a spectacular test batsman, scoring over 9000 test runs with 28 centuries and 41 half centuries. He is also the only South African to ever score a test triple century. But, his limited overs career has greatness written all over it, much like his test career.

Some of us argue that perhaps he retired too late and prolonged his career - but even with the drop in his average towards the end he still managed to retire with an average of 49 in one day internationals. Let us also not forget that he also has the most number of ODI hundreds for South Africa (27 centuries), two ahead of AB De Villiers who retired with 25 ODI hundreds. Hash was also the fastest ODI batsman in history to reach 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000 and 7000 ODI runs.

Do these sound like the stats and the career of a batsman who was "not really a limited overs batsman". The humility of the man caused his achievements to go under the radar a lot of the time, but every true cricket fan appreciates the greatness and elegance that is Hashim Amla.