Hashim Amla named new Protea's Test captain

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

CRICKET SOUTH AFRICA has announced the appointment of Hashim Amla as captain of the Castle Lager Proteas Test match squad in succession to Graeme Smith.

His first assignment will be to lead the Proteas to Sri Lanka next month for a two-match series.

He is the fifth Protea to be appointed captain of the Proteas after Kepler Wessels (1992), Hansie Cronje (1994), Shaun Pollock (2000) and Smith (2003) although Mark Boucher, Jacques Kallis and Ashwell Prince have also done the job in a stand-in capacity.

AB de Villiers has been appointed vice-captain of the Test squad. He also remains captain of the ODI squad with Amla as his deputy.

"It gives me great pleasure to congratulate Hashim on his appointment," commented CSA Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat, following the unanimous decision taken by the Board of Directors to accept the unanimous recommendation of the national selectors.

"It is a reflection of the excellence and standing of our senior players that there was more than one quality candidate to consider for this most important leadership position. Hashim is universally respected, both in South Africa and around the cricketing world, not only for his quality as a player which has seen him ranked among the best batsmen in the world in both Test and ODI cricket, but also for his personal qualities.

"He has shown his steel in playing in the key No. 3 batting position, one which he took over from Jacques Kallis with great success. The manner in which he has adapted his game to suit the different forms of cricket speaks volumes for his skills to react to changing circumstances. He has earned particular respect as a role model for his humility and his upholding of the best traditions and spirit of the game. Becoming captain is a natural progression for his outstanding career and we are indeed fortunate to have a leader of his quality.

"Stability has been one of the endearing qualities he has brought to the Proteas and this is important at a time when we have had to replace several key players in Smith, Kallis and Boucher."

Hashim Amla commented: "It is an honour and a privilege to be given this responsibility. I would like to pay tribute to the leadership Graeme Smith has provided throughout my international career. This is an exciting challenge but one that I take on with positivity with our Test team being in exceptionally good space at the moment with the support of a strong core of senior players.

"I have concentrated on taking my batting to the highest possible level and now I feel I am in a position to make a contribution to South African cricket in a leadership role."

Meanwhile: Cricket South Africa has named Stiaan van Zyl and Dane Piedt as new caps in the Proteas test squad for next month's tour to Sri Lanka while Beuran Hendricks has been included in the Castle Lager ODI squad for the first time.

Quinton de Kock and Kyle Abbott, who were not in the original squad for the Sunfoil Test Series against Australia but were called up as injury replacements, have been retained and there is also a recall for Imran Tahir.

The players to drop out of the Test squad are Thami Tsolekile, Rory Kleinveldt, Ryan McLaren and Robin Peterson while Graeme Smith has retired.

Hendricks made his debut for the Proteas in the KFC T20 Series against Australia and also went to the ICC World Twenty20 that followed. He now makes his 50 overs debut in the place of Lonwabo Tsotsobe who is recovering from surgery and could not be considered.

The other changes see Faf du Plessis take the place of the retired Smith and Aaron Phangiso added as a second spinner.

"Van Zyl and Piedt have been outstanding throughout the Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras' successful Sunfoil Series campaign, finishing up as leading runs scorer and wicket-taker respectively," commented CSA selection convener Andrew Hudson. "This emphasizes once again the consistent route the selectors have always followed to recognise form through the pipeline path of franchise and South Africa A performance.

"The tour to Sri Lanka obviously has different tactical considerations to a home series and that required us to alter the balance between our seam and spin bowling options.

"These two squads are well equipped to take us forward as on the one hand we endeavour to regain the world No. 1 Test ranking and on the other to have a successful run-up to next year's ICC World Cup."

Proteas Castle Lager Test squad: Kyle Abbott (Sunfoil Dolphins), Hashim Amla (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Quinton de Kock (bizhub Highveld Lions), AB de Villiers (The Unlimited Titans), JP Duminy (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Faf du Plessis (The Unlimited Titans), Dean Elgar (The Unlimited Titans), Imran Tahir (Sunfoil Dolphins), Morne Morkel (The Unlimited Titans), Wayne Parnell (Chevrolet Warriors), Alviro Petersen (bizhub Highveld Lions), Vernon Philander (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Dane Piedt (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Dale Steyn (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Stiaan van Zyl (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras).

Proteas Castle Lager ODI squad: AB de Villiers (The Unlimited Titans, capt), Hashim Amla (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Quinton de Kock (bizhub Highveld Lions), JP Duminy (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Faf du Plessis (The Unlimited Titans), Beuran Hendricks (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Imran Tahir (Sunfoil Dolphins), Jacques Kallis (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Ryan McLaren (Sunfoil Dolphins), David Miller (Sunfoil Dolphins), Morne Morkel (The Unlimited Titans), Wayne Parnell (Chevrolet Warriors), Aaron Phangiso (bizhub Highveld Lions), Vernon Philander (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Dale Steyn (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras).