South African batsman Hashim Amla announced retirement from international cricket on Thursday, 8 August, calling time on an illustrious 15-year career during which he gained a reputation as one of the country's most naturally gifted batsmen.
South Africa’s cricket board confirmed the news in a tweet that said the 36-year-old will continue playing in the domestic circuit.
‘Hashim Amla today called time on one of the great international careers of the modern era when he announced his retirement from all formats of international cricket. He will continue to be available for domestic cricket as well as the Mzansi Super League,’ read the tweet.
An elegant right-handed top-order batsman, Amla overcame a shaky start in international cricket, during which his technique was criticised, to become one of South Africa's all-time leading batsmen.
Amla scored 9,282 runs at an average of 46.64 in 124 Test matches and 8,113 at 49.46 in 181 one-day internationals.
He also made 1,277 runs in 44 Twenty20 internationals at an average of 33.60. He hit 28 centuries in Tests and 27 in one-day internationals. His Test tally included four double centuries.
Amla finished as South Africa's second highest run-scorer in Test cricket (9,282 runs) behind Jacques Kallis and the third highest in one-day internationals (8,113
runs) behind Kallis and AB de Villiers.
He hit 55 international centuries, including South Africa's highest Test score when he struck 311 not out against England at The Oval in 2012.
The stylish right-hander averaged more than 45 in both formats and also holds a string of South African batting records. He is the only South African to make 300 in Test cricket and has his country's highest Test scores against England, India and the West Indies, and the highest against Australia in the post-apartheid era.
“I learned many lessons during this incredible ride, made many friends and most importantly shared in the love of a brotherhood.”Hashim Amla
Amla said he thanked "the fans for energising me when times were tough, and for celebrating with me when we succeeded together".
Amla made his Test debut against India in Calcutta in 2004/05, scoring 24 and 2.
In the same season he played in two matches of South Africa's home series against England but was dropped after scoring only 36 runs in four innings.
Some critics believed that his backlift, which took his bat out at an angle of close to 45 degrees, was a flaw which would prevent him from having a successful international career.
He modified his technique, although still retaining a distinctive loop in his backlift, and returned to Test cricket 15 months later with his first century, 149 against New Zealand.
He became an ever-present in the South African team.
His early struggles were recalled in a tweet by former team-mate AB de Villiers.
"So many doubted u early on, but your fighting spirit, humility & incredible one of a kind talent took u to the top of the mountain," said De Villiers.
Initially regarded as a Test specialist, Amla only made his one-day international debut in 2008 but soon proved that classic stroke play, mainly as an opening batsman, was as effective as power hitting in the limited overs game.
When he was at the peak of his career, between 2010 and 2016, he had an average of above 50 in both Tests and one-day internationals, while maintaining a scoring strike rate of better than 90 runs per 100 balls in one-day games.
In recent years, though, Amla's form dropped off and he struggled at the recent World Cup in England and Wales.
His last Test century was in October 2017 and he made only two one-day international hundreds after that date.
Amla captained South Africa in 14 Test matches between 2014 and 2015/16 but seldom appeared entirely comfortable in the role.
His captaincy career started promisingly with three series wins, including one in Sri Lanka, but after a difficult tour of India in which South Africa lost three of four Tests, he resigned as captain midway through a home series against England when South Africa were 1-0 down after two matches.
Amla said he would remain available for domestic cricket as well as the second edition of the Mzansi Super League Twenty20 competition, which is due to start in November.
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