Hashim Amla - The next wall?

The scientist-looking batsman from South Africa has really transformed from an under-performer in the first few years of his international career, to the batting order mainstay along with Jaques Kallis himself. His solid technique, also his consistency, especially in ODIs where he holds the record of fastest batsman to score 3000 runs and has already scored 10 ODI centuries in just 59 innings. Watching his batting reminds me of “The Wall”. So is he the next “Wall” in cricket?

He was a major contributor for South Africa’s success in the recently-concluded series against England, which gained them the world No. 1 rankings in Test. He also scored a 311*- the highest score by a South African batsman and the first one to score a triple century for South Africa. His average of 50 in Tests is in no way less and an average of 59 in ODIs is just incredible. His average in ODIs has not been achieved just because of defensive batting. He opens the batting for South Africa and his strike rate is about 90, which is very good.

So, what does this player have to be compared with Rahul Dravid? First, his technique. Both of them are one-down players, having to negotiate the new ball. Both have succeeded tremendously in that position. Rahul Dravid had one of the most solid defense technique during his playing times. He used to grind the bowlers with his defensive style of play, also punishing them by putting away the bad deliveries to the fence. A glimpse of him is seen in Amla, who also has shown solid technique and like the former, the ability to stay at the crease for a long period of time. His recent triple century against England in seaming conditions is the best example.

Also, like Rahul Dravid, he has always been seen as a Test player rather than an ODI player. But he has changed gears with such ease like none others and literally scores centuries in ODIs at will. Though Dravid would rather play more of a mediator role in ODIs, Amla has gone a step ahead by taking the opposition attack of his own with nice shot selection. Consistency+great technique can be a deadly combination and these both have shown why.

In the coming years, much will be expected from him, especially after Kallis retires. He will come to know the real pressure of stabilizing the middle order, unlike now, wherein pressure on him is not as much as Dravid used to face in his playing days. So one has to wait and see how Amla fares in his forthcoming years. Is Amla the next “wall”? Only time can tell.