Hashim Amla figures among the elite when it comes to batting in Tests – correct and compact with 25 centuries to his credit. His record in ODIs is not bad either – 22 centuries to be rated among the best. Strangely the T20 brand of cricket has not appealed to this South African opener. And the Indian Premier league (IPL) had remained out of bounds for Amla until the other night when he carved out a 96 against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
> Report: Kings XI Punjab loses despite Amla's 96
Was it a new Amla one saw at the PCA Stadium in Mohali? Not really, he insists. "It is all about getting your basics right." Amla’s basics and his eventual treatment of the ball has been top class from the time he made a modest Test debut at the Eden Gardens in 2004 batting in the middle order. Scores of 109 and 96 batting up the order in his last Test against England at Centurion last January confirmed his hunger for runs.
"Basics are always there," he says. "You have to make some innovations here and there and look to improvise. There are certain players who are more power hitters and some not."
He was reacting to comparison between AB de Villiers who is adept at transforming a good ball into bad with some astonishing innovation and Virat kohli who plays the traditional shots with far more consistency and skill than any in world cricket.
Focus on adjustment
He is comfortable appreciating all the formats of the game. Amla would not prefer to be labelled. "You have to make to make the best of the game. Try and hit cricketing shots that give lot more value to what happens in the game. There is so much of cricket that you get lot of opportunities to adjust. The focus has to be on adjusting your game."
For Amla the time spent at home was 'good' and the IPL outing a 'blessing in disguise'. The South African side travels to the West Indies for a tri-series with Australia as the third team. "I came here looking for an opportunity and hopefully to get some runs. I can go to the West Indies with some runs behind me."
A near-century in his fourth IPL match should help Amla entertain hopes of returning to the tournament from the very start. He has matches against Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rising Pune Supergiants to attract the attention of the franchises because Kings XI Punjab’s run comes to an end on May 21 – its tally standing at eight from 12. It looks to avoid finishing at the bottom. Amla, following that promising knock against Sunrisers Hyderabad, look forward to help them achieve that goal.
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