Amla: I don’t think there’ll be any thoughts of my triple century this time

LONDON: On the occasion of its 100th Test, there’s naturally been a lot of reminiscing at The Oval this week and there’ll continue to be over the next couple of days.

South Africa’s major contributor to the storied ground’s 137-year history strode across the outfield yesterday, having completed training and said that while his innings here five years ago will always remain special, it’s not something he’s keen to focus on this week.

Hashim Amla’s 311 not out is still the highest Test score by a Proteas batsman and while celebrated in SA, in these parts it doesn’t hold the same reverence as Len Hutton’s 364 – in 1938 a then world record – or even Viv Richards’ 291 in 1976. In the latter’s case that innings was a flamboyant effort that typified the method of one of the all-time great Test teams, while Hutton’s effort is still the highest Test score by an Englishman.

Amla’s performance in 2012 was a masterclass in patient batting, that interspersed periods of calm with moments of classic strokeplay. He mastered England’s fine off-spinner Graeme Swann nudging and flicking him smartly on the leg-side and when Swann drifted wide of the off-stump, Amla would unleash the cover drive. As his innings continued the sweep became a feature – a demonstration of how he changed strategy against Swann who was left exasperated and injured, and was subsequently dropped for the second Test of the series.

Amla has sought to suppress those memories as SA attempt to take a lead in what has been a topsy-turvy Test series against England.

“I remember just trying to bat as long as I can and thankfully I did,” he said of his 13 hour 10 minute effort.

“The one thing I remember; we were bowling on the first day, England were in a good position after day one and the way we came back the next day, bowling them out for (385), that was the turning point in the game, it got us back in. To win that Test, the fight we showed is what stayed with me from the last time we played here.

“A lot of cricket has happened since, I don’t think there’ll be any thoughts of that (innings). I find things that happened in the past, if you linger too long on them, it becomes more of a distraction.”

Asked if he was still the same player as five years ago, Amla quipped: “I’ve got the same name.” His statistics are not quite the same however. Before that triple century, he scored two centuries and four fifties in his previous 13 innings, but this year his form has not been as prolific – just one century and three half-centuries in 15 innings.

That said, there did appear to be a reminder of the Amla of 2012 in the way he played in the second Test at Trent Bridge last week where innings’ of 78 and 87 suggested he was getting back to some good Test form. “I’ve trained as tough as I can train, that’s important for me, whether the scores come or not , it’s about applying yourself and letting the score take care of itself,” Amla said.

SA look by far the more settled of the two teams ahead of tomorrow’s start.

“Any team that’s won the last game will carry some momentum or positivity with them, so we won, we carry that,” said Amla.