Hashim Amla, the reluctant record breaker. Photo: Frikkie Kapp/Gallo Images.
Hashim Amla is undoubtedly the record man of the Proteas.
That can’t be disputed, especially after the past few profitable weeks the 34-year-old bearded star has experienced.
Also read: Infographic: The Proteas’ Paarl paradise
During the Test series against Bangladesh, he equalled Graeme Smith as the South African with the second most hundreds in the five-day format.
Then came last Sunday’s romp in the first ODI against the Tigers in Kimberley.
Firstly, his serene, unbeaten 110 extended his record as the man with the most ODI centuries for the Proteas – 26.
Amla’s unbeaten partnership of 282 with Quinton de Kock, who galloped to a magnificent 168, is the highest for any wicket for the Proteas in an ODI.
There have only been two higher opening stands in ODI cricket and they were only four runs away from a world record for the first wicket.
It also continues the trend of Amla being involved in big partnerships.
He’s been in a massive seven of South Africa’s ten highest ODI stands.
A legend by all accounts.
But Amla also stays one of the most humble players in the game.
“Nah, we’ve got bigger things to worry about that records,” he said with a chuckle.
“There’s a ball coming at you! As the records came up, it was obviously nice to share it with Quinton. But it’s not that important. In many instances, it’s not really even yours.”
Amla has a good reason not to take it for granted anyway.
For much of his illustrious career, he’s been a supremely consistent performer before last season saw questions being asked over his form and hunger.
Without actually performing all that badly, Amla lacked fluency and looked particularly weak outside off-stump.
However, that slump already seems long forgotten even if he continues to force himself to keep those hard times at the back of his mind.
“Never take runs for granted,” said Amla.
“It’s lesson No 1 in crickets for a batsman. When you go through tough times, you always think of those moments when you were in some good form. When it goes for you, you have to try and keep some momentum going. It’s important to keep enjoying things with the right attitude.”