Johannesburg - Former Proteas captain Graeme Smith and current stars AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn joined in with the congratulations for Hashim Amla after “The Mighty Hash” celebrated his 100th Test with a century at the Wanderers on Thursday.
Amla, the eighth South African to play 100 Tests, also became the eighth player to score a century in that landmark match when he reached three figures in the final Test against Sri Lanka on Thursday. He ended the day undefeated on 125.
Steyn tweeted: “Stoked for the special man @amlahash,” and AB de Villiers, who put in an appearance as the teams were warming up before the start of play, also tweeted: “Hashim Amla. Special man, special player!!!”
Former South African captain, Graeme Smith, the last person to score a century in his 100th Test (against England at the Oval in 2012) also tweeted congratulations: “Welcome to the club @amlahash #Hash100.”
Amla was made to work hard over the first half of his innings, but eventually ended the first day of the third Test on 125 not out, which came in 304 minutes and during which he faced 221 balls and hit 14 fours.
Fortunately, his early struggles were offset by a fluent innings at the other end from JP Duminy, who also registered a hundred, his sixth in Tests, although some of the gloss was taken off it when he was dismissed for 155 in the penultimate over of the day. South Africa finished on 338/3.
Duminy wouldn’t have minded not being in the spotlight, which was on Amla all day from the time - an hour before play started - when he received gifts from Cricket South Africa, including a gold coin and a specially embroidered shirt that marked the occasion of his 100th Test.
“I’m really grateful to reach 100 Tests. But to be very honest, in the last couple of Tests, I’ve not scored runs, (so coming into the game) my focus was on scoring runs,” said Amla.
It was the 26th hundred of Amla’s illustrious career, but his first in almost a year, an indication of how difficult a period 2016 was for him in the Test arena.
“I wanted to have a quiet build-up. There’s been some frustration, having not gotten runs in the last couple of games and not contributing to the team’s success. I wanted my focus to be as pure as possible, no side attractions, razzmatazz. I personally am really grateful to get to 100 games, and no disrespect to it, but more importantly, I wanted to work on my game with as little distraction as possible,” he said.
Teammates have been at pains to point out that Amla’s mood has barely changed, even as he’s not registered the returns he’d become accustomed to with the bat.
He has been generous with his time and with dispensing any assistance, with Stephen Cook saying for him it felt like Amla was already 30 not out even before he went out to bat.
Cricket SA’s chief executive, Haroon Lorgat, paid special tribute to Amla before play started.
“Hashim has entertained us all with many memorable moments during his outstanding career, and will undoubtedly continue to do so for some time to come,” said Lorgat.
“Memories flood back to his triple century at The Oval, when the Proteas equalled a world record by winning a Test after losing only two wickets; his innings of 196, the highest for the Proteas against Australia since unity, that helped clinch the series win ‘Down Under’; and his century in Sri Lanka when he led the Proteas to only their second series win in that country.
“Possibly, most important of all, he has been a role model to the nation, particularly to the youth, for his humble nature and the balanced outlook he brings to all aspects of his life,” Lorgat said.