South African cricket great Hashim Amla has revealed his all-time Test XI which includes players from the generation in which he played cricket. Amla included great Indian batsmen Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar in his all-time Test XI but left out modern batting star Virat Kohli.
Amla scored 9,282 runs in 124 Test matches at an average of 46.64. His unbeaten score of 311 is the second highest individual score recorded by a South African batsman. He also made significant contributions in the limited overs formats, adding 8,113 runs in 181 ODIs and 1,277 runs in 44 T20 Internationals.
Hashim Amla reveals his all-time Test XI; No place for Virat Kohli
Hashim Amla named his all-time Test XI, including players from his era, excluding stars like Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Joe Root and Kane Williamson. Amla chose his former South African teammate Graeme Smith and Australian legend Matthew Hayden as opening batsmen.
Smith scored 9,265 runs in 117 Test matches at an average of 48.25, including 27 centuries, while Hayden scored 8,625 runs in 103 matches at an average of over 50 and 30 centuries.
At No. 3, Amla chose Rahul Dravid, who scored 13,288 runs in 164 Tests at an average of 52.31 with 36 centuries. For the No. 4 position, he chose Australian great Ricky Ponting, who scored 13,378 runs in 168 Test matches at an average of 51.85, which included 41 centuries.
Virat Kohli is widely regarded as one of the best Test leaders ever, however a decline in form and disappointing performances over the past five years led him to retire from Test cricket ahead of the England tour earlier this year.
Hashim Amla picks AB de Villiers as wicketkeeper-batsman in his all-time Test XI
Hashim Amla joins Proteas teammate Jacques Kallis, widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders in Test cricket, for the No. 5 spot. Kallis scored 13,289 runs at an average of 55.37, including 45 centuries, and also took 292 wickets, including five five-wicket hauls.
The team also includes the highest run-scorer in Test history, Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 15,921 runs in 200 matches at an average of 53.78, including 51 centuries.
Amla chose AB de Villiers at number seven, who also played the role of wicketkeeper. De Villiers scored 8,765 runs in 114 Test matches at an average of 50.66, which included 22 centuries.
Hashim Amla picks two spinners and two fast bowlers for his all-time Test XI
For the bowling department of his all-time Test XI, Hashim Amla went with two spinners and two fast bowlers. He chose Muttiah Muralitharan, who took 800 wickets in 133 Test matches at an average of 22.72, while Shane Warne took 708 wickets in 145 matches at an average of 25.41.
Amla chose his former Proteas teammate Dale Steyn and Australian legend Glenn McGrath. Steyn ended his career with 439 wickets in 93 Test matches at an impressive strike rate of 42.38 and 26 five-wicket hauls, while McGrath took 563 wickets in 124 Test matches at an average of 21.64, including 29 five-wicket hauls.
Amla’s all-time Test XI (via Beard Before Wickets Podcast): Graeme Smith, Matthew Hayden, Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, Sachin Tendulkar, AB de Villiers (wk), Shane Warne, Dale Steyn, Muttiah Muralitharan, Glenn McGrath
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