Elegant right hand batsman Hashim Amla is getting ready for one of his career’s biggest challenges – the ICC World Cup 2019 – credits Ramadan for improving his physical and mental approach.
The opener, whose form was patchy in the lead up to the World Cup and whose selection to the final 15 raised some eyebrows, has been in fine form in the two warm-up game including a cracking half-century in the rained-out practice game against West Indies on Sunday.
“It really helps with my conditioning,” Amla said after the game against West Indies in Bristol on Sunday. “Fasting is something I always look forward to. It’s the best month of the year. I see it as a great mental exercise and also, as a great spiritual exercise,” he added.
Back in 2012, Amla was in the middle of Ramadan, when he became South Africa’s highest individual Test run-scorer with his 311 not out at The Oval. Amla has 7,910 runs in 174 ODIs at an average of 49.74 with 27 centuries till date.
The SA veteran took part in domestic T20 tournament last month but opted out of the final stages to work on his ODI game. “T20 is different to fifty-over cricket. I had two weeks with (batting coach) Dale Benkenstein and spent time in the nets batting the way a fifty-over cricketer would bat. It was important to have that time. Sometimes it works out; sometimes it doesn’t,” Amla said.
Amla has looked in sublime touch with two half-centuries in South Africa’s two warm-up games. Amla will be vying for the opener’s spot with Aiden Markram, who has been in fine form for Hampshire in County cricket this season.
