Big Records Hashim Amla Owns as He Announces His Retirement

A look at some of the records still held by Hashim Amla as he announced his retirement from international cricket.

South African veteran Hashim Amla called time on a 15-year international career on Thursday as he announced his retirement.

In a statement, Amla said "I learned many lessons during this incredible ride, made many friends and most importantly shared in the love of a brotherhood."

The batsman finished as South Africa's second highest run-scorer in test cricket behind Jacques Kallis and the third highest in one-day internationals behind Kallis and AB de Villiers.

The stylish right-hander averaged more than 45 in both formats and also holds a string of South African batting records. Here’s a look at a few of them:

Test Numbers

1. Recorded an unbeaten 311 off 529 balls against England at The Oval in July 2012 - the only triple century by a South African batsman in Tests.
2. He posted three successive centuries vs India in India in 2009-10 - 253 not out at Nagpur and 114 & 123 not out at Kolkata.
3. Produced his best series in terms of runs' tally against India in 2009-10 in India, amassing 490 in three innings (two Tests) at an average of 490.00, including three centuries.  The said tally is the highest by a South African in a two-Test series.
4. Posted 28 Test hundreds - the second highest tally by a South African batsman next only to Jacques Kallis' 45 centuries.
5. Registered 25 hundreds as number three batsman.
6. Recorded sixteen hundreds - the third highest tally by a South African batsman in a winning cause in Tests behind Jacques Kallis' 22 and Graeme Smith's 18.
7. Played exceptionally well under Graeme Smith's captaincy, scoring 6099 runs at an average of 52.57 in 73 Tests, including 21 hundreds and 27 fifties.
8. His outstanding series average of 490.00 against India in 2009-10 is the second highest by a batsman next only to England's Wally Hammond's 563.00 - his tally being 563 runs in two innings vs New Zealand in 1932-33.  Hammond had posted 227 at Christchurch and 336 not out at Auckland.
9. He has managed 1,000 runs or more in a calendar year in Tests thrice - 1249 (ave.78.06) in 11 Tests in 2010; 1161 (ave.52.77) in 15 matches in 2008 and 1064 (ave.70.93) in 10 matches in 2012.
10. His exceptional feat of playing 529 balls while recording a career-best 311 is the second highest by a South African player. Gary Kirsten had faced 642 balls to record 275 vs England at Durban in December 1999.
11. His captaincy records was mediocre, recording 4 wins, 4 losses and 6 drawn games out of 14 Tests - success % 28.57.
12. Against New Zealand, he had played brilliantly to average 60.73 in fourteen Tests - his tally being 1154, including four hundreds and seven fifties.

ODI Numbers

1. Established a world record for the fastest to 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, 5,000, 6,000 and 7,000 runs.
2. Enjoyed an excellent record against the West Indies, aggregating 1069 (ave. 76.35), including five hundreds and four fifties, in 16 innings.
3. Ends his career with 27 ODI hundreds - a South African record.
4. Amassed 1,000 runs or more in a calendar year twice - 1058 (ave. 75.57) in 15 matches in 2010 and 1062 (ave. 50.57) in 23 in 2015.
5. Was adjudged the Man of the Match eighteen times - the last being for scoring 154 vs Sri Lanka at Centurion on February 10, 2017.
6. Seven times, he was adjudged the player of the series - the last being for scoring 176 (ave.58.66) in three innings vs New Zealand in 2015.
7. Amassed 413 runs at an average of 206.50, including two centuries and two fifties, in four innings vs West Indies in 2014-15 - his best ever series in this format.

T20I

1. Posted an unbeaten 97 against Australia at Cape Town on March 9, 2016 - his highest. The said innings is also the highest individual score involving the two countries in T20Is.

While Amla has announced his international retirement, he will continue to feature in domestic cricket along with the Mzansi Super League T20 franchise tournament in South Africa.