Hashim Amla’s appointment as batting coach for the Gauteng Lions on Wednesday provoked the question, “Has he ever been away from the game?” Not really, or at least not for nearly long enough for anyone to forget the mark he made. Certain athletes leave their mark. Others cast spells that continue to glimmer long after they are gone.
A career as impressive as Amla’s – 28 centuries and 9,282 runs at 46.64 in 215 Test innings, and the quickest man to reach 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, 6,000, and 7,000 runs in ODIs – does not guarantee success as a coach. What could he contribute to the role?
“Any team who sign him up are going to benefit from him and his presence,” Dale Steyn, who shared a dressing room with Amla in 89 Tests, 95 ODIs and 20 T20Is, or more than half of Amla’s international career, told CricAdvisor.
“Even if he wasn’t a coach, if he was just a mentor, just people talking to him and listening to him, seeing what a calm person he is, would help a team so much. As a coach, what’s even better is that he can add his input on things like how to score, where to score, when to score, when not to score. From a batting perspective, that’s massive.
“He’s also a leader in that he captained South Africa [in 14 Tests, nine ODIs and two T20Is, and to the final of the 2002 under-19 World Cup]. He ticks a lot of boxes in the sense that he can assist many people in that space, whether it’s the captain, the head coach, or any player.
“He’s one of the most approachable people I’ve ever had the pleasure of hanging around with. He doesn’t assign himself to any particular group. ‘Hash’ is a lone warrior. He can fit in with anyone. That’s a great benefit to have in a team because anyone can go and talk to him. He has a wealth of knowledge, and the Lions are really going to benefit from that.”
Amla played in his final of 349 internationals in June 2019, and then 59 additional contests. These were for the Karnataka Tuskers, the Falcon Hunters, the Khulna Tigers, the World Giants – T10, BPL, and legends – and Surrey.
In 21 innings for the latter in the county championship last year, he amassed 718 runs at 39.88, including two centuries and three 50s. Not terrible for an individual who turned forty on May 31. However, this makes him 487 days younger than James Anderson, who is still alive, albeit weak.
On January 18 of this year, Amla announced that he would put up his famously dry batting gloves for good, prompting an outpouring of praise from former teammates and opponents for his career and character. In March, however, he participated in two legends T20s in Doha. He scored 68 off 59 against an attack that included Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Amir, Abdur Razzak, Sohail Tanvir, Shahid Afridi, and Abdul Razzaq in his second innings.
The Mumbai Indians Cape Town lost seven of their ten matches and were the first team eliminated from the semifinals in the inaugural SA20. And now, a legitimate employment. Amla will be the batsman of choice for Lions head coach Russell Domingo in all three formats. Lions CEO Jono Leaf-Wright stated on Thursday that he will also “add value in the women’s, academy, and U19 space.”
The majority of Amla’s attention will be on the first-class competition, where the Lions finished fourth out of eight teams last season. Ryan Rickelton scored three centuries in five innings, fueled by what he perceived as the inequity of being declared ineligible for South Africa due to an ankle injury that did not prevent him from playing domestically. However, only Joshua Richards, Wiaan Mulder, and Bjorn Fortuin scored a century for the team.
The addition of Zubayr Hamza from Western Province, who hopes to return to the path he deviated from after playing six Tests between January 2019 and February 2022, will be closely observed. Amla will demonstrate his value if he coaxes Hamza back to the form that earned him an unbeaten 202 in his fourth first-class innings, as well as two other double centuries and 11 conventional hundreds in 139 first-class innings in which he scored 5,647 runs at 46.28. Rassie van der Dussen has reached 50 just twice in his last 17 innings across all formats for South Africa, both times in the course of scoring centuries against England in one-day internationals. Amla will earn more credit if he is able to contain Rassie van der Dussen, who has reached 50 just twice in his last 17 innings across all formats for South Africa.
Improve Hamza’s performance and reinvigorate Van der Dussen’s. Keep Rickelton blazing, Temba Bavuma reliable, and Reeza Hendricks’ sights set on a regular spot in South Africa’s white-ball teams. Help Mulder maintain his self-confidence. Improve Fortuin’s batting prowess. Ensure that Dominic Hendricks, Evan Jones, Mitch van Buuren, and Richards continue to improve their performance. Do so despite limited contact with some of those athletes, who will spend the majority of their careers in the national team.
Two days into the position, Amla’s inventory of tasks is lengthy and is likely to grow longer. It is difficult enough to create memories and enchantment as a player; it is even more difficult when, after everything, all you can do is sit and observe like everyone else. Fortunately, he is a placid, solitary warrior who can blend in with anyone.
