Amla’s deft flick attack by stealth

Times Media - February 11, 2014

TELFORD VICE, Johannesburg

Hashim Amla is already a master at meeting topics he does not want to discuss with the deadest of bats, but he found a way to go beyond that boundary yesterday.

Asked at a press conference what he had made of the Aussie bowlers in their recent march to a 5-0 triumph in England, Amla played a solid forward defensive and a deft flick off the back foot all in the same few words.

“I didn’t watch much of the Ashes,” Amla said unblinkingly. “But we’ve played against each other a few times now and they are the same bowlers, and we’ve been quite successful against them.”

Fair enough. SA have won two of their last four test series against Australia and drawn another. And why should Amla - or any of the South Africans - help talk up the Australians ahead of the first test in Centurion tomorrow?

Not that Brad Haddin minded installing the home side as favourites going into the rubber: “SA are No. 1 in the world for a reason. They’ve played consistent cricket, home and away, for a long time - that’s why.”

Both Amla and Haddin refused to get dragged into a debate on the pitch, which has gleamed bright green for several days but took on a more pastel shade yesterday.

“I’ve heard a few guys say it was green, but it’s impossible to say what you’re going to get until the game starts,” Amla said. He conceded that “both teams are attacking, but conditions will be the deciding factor”.

Haddin said he tries “not to take too much notice a few days out. That can play with your head. We’ll take more notice from tomorrow”.

Jacques Kallis, who retired from test cricket after the series against India in December, will be missing from SA’s line-up after a stellar career that lasted 18 years.

Although convinced that “SA have a high-class batting line-up” Haddin said he “don’t see how you can replace Jacques Kallis”.

Amla could see how. “Faf (du Plessis, Kallis’ likely successor as SA’s No. 4) has been excellent for us in exceptional circumstances. I don’t think there’ll too much pressure on him.”

Haddin seemed less concerned over the loss from the Aussies’ ranks of allrounder Shane Watson, who has been ruled out of the first test - and possibly the series - with a calf injury.

“We’ve known about that for the past week,” Haddin said. “It hasn’t happened on the morning of a match. It’s not a disruption.”

In preparation for the series, SA have spent a week in camp and played a three-day game against a Composite XI. Australia’s tour match was washed out, and they will have to make do with their regular training sessions and two days of middle practice.

How did Haddin feel about facing his own bowlers at the Wanderers last week? “I was petrified; that wasn’t pleasant.”

Amla was the world’s top ranked batsmen a year ago but has since slipped to No. 4 on the list. The 43 runs he scored against India marked the second-leanest series of his career, and he suffered the indignity of being bowled playing no stroke in both innings of the first test at the Wanderers.

“I’ll try not to get out freakishly again,” Amla said, explaining that he had not found a specific weakness in his game.

He couldn’t have asked for a better venue than Centurion to try and resume his normal service. Amla’s average at the ground - 84.75 - is his highest for any venue, and nowhere else has he scored three centuries.