Amla, Kallis, de Villiers and Smith - the quartet that deserves it - Opinion
Four of South Africa’s Test players have been included in the top six of ICC's batting rankings. It comes as no surprise that the likes of Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, Graeme Smith and AB De Villiers form the quartet that holds the honour. They are just
a few points away from switching places with each other, and few would argue that players of such amazing chutzpah have had the ability to utilize their prowess to the advantage of their team, which is already brewing with talent.
Hashim Amla, who is ranked the highest of his lot, was almost bound to get there after a mammoth 311 against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/HM-Amla-c1557 has been one of the most consistent batsmen of his generation, piling up runs against
oppositions in all conditions. It almost seems like a cardinal sin to belittle his achievements and his calming influence on the team. Not many would forget his unbeaten 253 that he notched up against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 to push South Africa on the road to victory at Nagpur.
Similar and numerous match winning assaults from this monk from Durban have littered his CV, and fittingly, he is ranked the third best batsman behind West Indian http://www.senore.com/Cricket/S-Chanderpaul-c2390 and fellow South African, Jacques Kallis.
Ahead of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/JH-Kallis-c1692. He is the embodiment of a colossus figure, who looms larger than most players in the dressing room, barring Graeme Smith. Kallis is, by a distance, the most worshipped all rounder in the world and with an average
of nearly 58 in Test Cricket, not many would write him off as a top contender for the number one Test batsman spot. His defensive technique and penchant for scoring big runs when it is really needed for his team has never evaded him, and like Amla, his calming
influence at the crease almost sends a strange sense of assurance to the dressing room that things are under control. Seldom are they not in control, for all Kallis needs to do is pluck a silken cover drive out of the coaching manual to bring up yet another
amazing feat. He really is the complete all round package.
The other two batsmen who occupy the fifth and sixth sports could not have been more different than the ones mentioned above. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Timothy-Raymond-Ambrose-c94079 nature with extravagant stroke play. He is an artist’s delight.
Not only does he have a voracious appetite for run scoring, but his ability to annihilate attacks if the situation demands it, has made him the most dangerous batsman in modern times for South Africa. Prior to Amla’s record breaking feat, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AB-de-Villiers-c887, held
the distinction of holding the highest score ever for a South African batsman with 278 against a powerful http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 attack in Abu Dhabi. It may have been surpassed by his fellow monk-like genius, but De Villiers is surely a class of his own.
Then comes the meaty, mighty captain, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/GC-Smith-c1473 from Transvaal. His pugnacity and diligence over the years, was never in question, given that he was handed the realms of captaining a side low on confidence at the age of 22. A gladiator like stature with
a penchant for scoring big, Smith has held http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 time and time again in times of crisis and led them with fierce tenacity. His century in the Oval Test is ironic for a man who had to bear the brunt of castigation from his fans after South Africa’s disastrous
exit from the 2011 World Cup. For http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Smith-c90598, he responded in style and made sure that his critics would be silenced forever.
Despite being distinct in their style of play, these four batsmen represent unity in diversity. In a country which had been divided along ethnic lines, these batsmen are a throwback to the old adage of diversity having more cons than pros.
Disclaimer: Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely of the author and do not represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
Tags: