Amla anxious to clash with Proteas teammates

Amla anxious to clash with Proteas teammates


Published: Guardian
Thursday, June 30, 2016

South Africa batting star Hashim Amla, right, in discussion with Guardian Sports Editor Valentino Singh, at the launch of Trinbago Knight Riders shirts at the Oval on Monday. Photo: David Wears
South African batting star Hashim Amla says he was looking forward to pitting his talents against countrymen, Morne Morkel and David Miller, during the Trinbago Knight Riders match against St Lucia Zouks in the Caribbean Premier League last night.

Amla is one of the game’s most sought-after players, having dominated all three formats, and is one of several top flight international players set to campaign in the June 29 to August 7 tournament.

He said after playing alongside Morkel and Miller in the South Africa side, the challenge would be an interesting one to now play against them.

“Those two guys are two guys I’ve spent a lot of time with in the South African team. It would be lovely to play against them,” Amla pointed out.

“I have played [against them] a couple of times in the domestic teams back home, and though it will be as much fun as possible, each one of us will want to come out on top, certainly from a team perspective.

“But, regardless, it’s going to be a great atmosphere. Everybody’s been talking about how Trinidad is one of the best atmospheric grounds in the whole of the CPL, so it’s something that I’m really looking forward to experiencing. And I’m sure that Morne and Davy will enjoy it just as much.”

Amla is playing in the CPL for the first time this year, and was alongside the likes of big-hitting New Zealander Brendon McCullum and effervescent Pakistani Umar Akmal.

His presence immediately strengthens the TKR side and he said he would be trying to ensure the Port of Spain-based franchise successfully defended the title they captured last year.

“It’s the first time that I’ve been involved in this competition and just from all the chat with the Trinbagonians, everybody’s really confident and hoping that it’s a great start for us,” he said.

“Certainly, being champions last year, we’ll be trying to defend that. It’s been a lovely few days since I’ve been with the boys.”

Importantly, Amla is coming off a productive outing in the just-concluded Tri-Nations Series against 50-overs World champions Australia and home side West Indies.

And though South Africa failed to reach the final, Amla was one of their leading batsmen with 241 runs, including a superb hundred at Warner Park two weeks ago.

He said the series, though a different format, had allowed him to get accustomed to conditions in the Caribbean.

“I’m very fortunate starting the CPL to have had the last three weeks already here playing at most of the venues that I’m going to be playing in the CPL,” he pointed out.

“So to have some sort of experience of the different conditions is gold, but T20 cricket is a completely different format to ODI cricket and we’ve got some amazing cricketers in the team. We’ll try to entertain as much as we can.”

www.guardian.co.tt/sport/2016-06-30/amla...sh-proteas-teammates