IND vs SA: Hashim Amla all praise for Team India – Legendary South Africa batter Hashim Amla was all praise for Virat Kohli & Co after their comprehensive win at Centurion. Amla said it was India’s disciplined cricket that helped them ace the Test while Dean Elgar led South Africa missed the plot. Follow India vs South Africa Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
“It was a fair result. They (India) have been a strong unit over the last two years or so. They have more experience collectively and it always makes a huge difference when you have runs on the board to back you up,” Hashim Amla told Cricket South Africa website.
IND vs SA: Hashim Amla’s huge compliment for Virat Kohli & Co after Centurion triumph, ‘Credit to Indians for playing disciplined cricket’
South Africa did not have many experienced players in their ranks with only skipper Dean Elgar, Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi having some decent exposure in the traditional format while India had all top players in the line-up. Amla said India’s big lead in the first innings made all the difference in the outcome of the match.
“Centurion is notorious for becoming more difficult to bat as the days progress. So once India won the toss, batted and scored in excess of 300 it was game on for the Protea batters to match that score at the very least. Being 130 runs behind is what really hurt them, and it ended up being the difference,” Hashim Amla said.
IND vs SA: Hashim Amla’s huge compliment for Virat Kohli & Co after Centurion triumph, ‘Credit to Indians for playing disciplined cricket’
Kagiso Rabada’s presence cannot be understated🤝#SAvIND #FreedomTestSeries #BetwayTestSeries #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/sFFvtI77xh
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) December 31, 2021
The 38-year-old Amla, who scored 9282 runs in 124 Tests at an average of 46.64 with 28 centuries, praised the Indian batters for their top-class show on the first day of the Test.
“Day one, the pitch looked best for batting and credit to the Indians for playing disciplined cricket,” he said. “It’s obvious when teams come to SA that their batsman talk about leaving well outside off stump and that’s probably were the Proteas let themselves down.”
IND vs SA: Hashim Amla’s huge compliment for Virat Kohli & Co after Centurion triumph, ‘Credit to Indians for playing disciplined cricket’
Amla felt the South Africa bowlers fought back well after that tough opening day.
“Not challenging the defence enough. That was day one, but on day two, though, they did extremely well to restrict the Indians to 327. They could have got to 400 plus.
“The bowlers all had their moments. Lungi (Ngidi), KG (Kagiso Rabada) and the youngster (Marco) Jansen stand out of course. However, in a relatively low scoring match I enjoyed watching Temba Bavuma. He always looks like he has time and seldom troubled.”
IND vs SA: Hashim Amla’s huge compliment for Virat Kohli & Co after Centurion triumph, ‘Credit to Indians for playing disciplined cricket’
Amla acknowledges there is work to do for the South Africans, although he still believes they can bounce back and defend their proud record of having never lost a home series to India.
“There’s certainly a way back but it’s going to take laser-like focus for extended periods and a touch a fortune,” he said.
IND vs SA: Hashim Amla’s huge compliment for Virat Kohli & Co after Centurion triumph, ‘Credit to Indians for playing disciplined cricket’
“(Captain) Dean (Elgar) and Aiden (Markram) are class players with a pedigree for hundreds and if they get momentum, it would certainly ease the nerves and give much needed confidence for the younger guys.”
The batting legend wants Temba Bavuma to bat higher in the order now that Quinton de Kock has retired from Test cricket. “Our two best batters in the middle are Temba and Quinton (de Kock). Now that Quinton has opted out of Test cricket, this cripples the batting line-up further and really, now more than ever, it makes it imperative for Temba to bat higher.
“Be it three or four, allow him time to play a solidifying role as opposed to a recovery one.” The second Test will be played from January 3-7 at Wanderers in Johannesburg.
IND vs SA: Hashim Amla’s huge compliment for Virat Kohli & Co after Centurion triumph, ‘Credit to Indians for playing disciplined cricket’
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