South Africa batsman Hashim Amla looking to bounce back from rare form slump

HASHIM Amla has a good record against Australia, but the classy batsman has hit a rare form slump leading into the Test series.

Hashim Amla went through a rare form slump in the recent series against India.

HASHIM Amla has enjoyed a good record against Australia, but the masterful strokeplayer has hit a rare slump in form leading into the three-Test series.

South Africa’s specialist No.3 batsman had a miserable series against India, with scores of just 3, 4 and 36. But it was the manner of his dismissals that was most concerning, twice offering no shot after misjudging the deliveries.

But Amla has four tons in 11 Tests against Australia and hasn’t felt the need to work on any specific aspect of his game ahead of the first Test in Centurion.

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“I’ll just try not to get out freakishly again,” he said.

“There’s not much you can do about certain things. Always in my preparation I try to keep it as simple as possible — that’s about it. Fortunately it’s worked well over the past few years.”

South Africa requested a green, bouncy pitch at Centurion to favour their world-class pace attack of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel, but it will suit Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle just as well.

Amla claims he didn’t watch much of Australia’s Ashes triumph, but says South Africa are familiar with Johnson’s fierce attack.

But there is an unwanted statistic that Amla says will provide the Proteas with added motivation. South Africa won their last two Test series in Australia, but have failed to beat Australia in a home Test series in their 20 years since readmission.

The only Test series South Africa has lost since 2006 was to Australia at home five years ago. It’s a record that’s spoken about in the South African camp and Amla says they’re determined to break it.

“It’s probably a motivation factor in one aspect,” Amla said.

“In another aspect I don’t think we’re going to play too much on it.

“Over the past few series we’ve played against Australia we have had success and it would be nice to translate that success into a home series.”

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