A new one from Amla

I have never heard before of a cricket player without being injured not playing cricket before a major tournament like ther WC.   So here goes:-

"Proteas and Cape Cobras batsman Hashim Amla will miss the remaining fixtures of the Cape-based franchise in the CSA T20 Challenge it was announced in a statement to the media on Saturday.

Amla, who was named in the Proteas squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup in England and Wales next month, will use the time away from the Cape Cobras to work on his game before South Africa leave for the tournament.

The top order batsman has only managed 92 runs in eight innings' for the Cape Cobras during the local T20 tournament.

Earlier this week, Amla missed the Cobras' clash against the Knights to be with his ill father.

Amla also took time away from the Proteas in March for the same reason.

The Proteas open their World Cup fixtures against the hosts England on Thursday, May 30 at the Oval.

Full statement from Hashim Amla:

“I have opted not to make myself available for selection for the World Sports Betting Cape Cobras for the remainder of the CSA T20 Challenge.

I express my sincere gratitude to the Cobras coaching staff and team for the game time over the last 3 weeks, given the circumstances.

Ultimately, I want to use the remaining time before the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup to fine tune my batting and prepare for the tournament.”

This really is BS.    Amla was bad in all games he actually played this year - inclusive of all formats of the game and since the end of February played in no games  in local cricket,    He is now fine-tuning his batting for the WC - how does one do that without playing in actual matches?   I am afraid he may be used in one or two games and  then for the rest have a nice  holiday in England and Wales .

Mike prior to final decision of selecting him for WC,

Lance Klusener and Andrew Hall had this to say :

Lance Klusener, South Africa’s Man-of-the-Tournament at the 1999 World Cup, believes there shouldn’t even be a debate over Amla’s inclusion.

“It’s really simple, he has to go to England,” the former all-rounder told Netwerk24.

“He’s been to the country on various occasions throughout his career and is intimately familiar with those conditions.”

Interestingly, Amla has indeed tasted a lot of success in England.

His highest (and South Africa’s) Test score of 311 not out was crafted at The Oval in London, while his best effort in ODIs – a cracking 150 off just 124 deliveries – was scored in Southampton.

Andrew Hall, who was the Proteas’ joint leading wicket-taker at the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies, agrees.

“It counts in Hashim’s favour that he knows English conditions well,” he told the Afrikaans website.

“No-one should be quibbling, he needs to be selected.”

Only in South Africa....

Seb

Well  if he is still performing like he did in England three years ago that explanation would be acceptable - but he has flopped in virtually every ODI he has played in for the past year.   And his fielding is a huge flop as well. 

I do not like reputation selections and that is what Amla is at present.  

I am afraid that what Klusener say about a player is not gospel   His wits left him in the 1999 WC semi - when SA should have won the game needing one run from 3 balls and he ran out Donald - the number 11 batsman - expecting by doing that  he could win the game for SA.   

He subsequently coached the Dolphins and was not a roaring success either.        

What Pakistani series - certainly not the one this year when he was a total flop in fielding and a flop at batting?   What a farce.   

Gee They've been very accommodating of Amla starting with his refusal to wear the sponsor's logo(Castle Lager) to allowing him to miss vital match practice leading into the WC. 

No it does not - but he lost two matches by being totally useless.  The three he was ou early - the Proteas won.  And his fielding borders on the extremely poor.          

So you believe Amla's going to strike form at the WC.......he has my best wishes. 

Dave

I am afraid your hope is not build on a sound foundation - the only hope I have is that he would not do too much damage in the games he actually plays in.  

The option was either Amla or Hendricks, my option was to select the best ODI player outside of the squad. Funny how Dave always pushes for young blood but not so in the case of past it Amla.