Hashim Amla scored more than 9,000 Test runs for South Africa
(Picture: Getty Images)South African great Hashim Amla has announced his retirement from professional cricket, in a blow to Surrey’s hopes of defending their County Championship title.
Amla made more than 34,000 runs during the course of his career, 9,282 of those coming in Test cricket for his country, second only to Jacques Kallis in the list of South Africa’s all-time leading scorers.
The 39-year-old made 28 hundreds in 124 Tests for the Proteas, scoring South Africa’s first ever triple-century when scoring 311 against England at the Oval in 2012.
Amla returned to the ground as an overseas player with Surrey in 2013 and 2014, before rejoining the county following his international retirement in 2019.
Last summer, Amla made 718 runs at an average just shy of 40 as Gareth Batty’s side claimed the Division One crown.
“I have great memories of the Oval ground and to finally leave it as a player fills me with immense gratitude for what has been,” Amla said.
“A sincere thank you to Alec Stewart and the entire Surrey staff, players and Members for their support. The Surrey ship runs so professionally that it would make any international player feel a sense of honour just to be involved with.
“I wish them all the best and many more trophies.”
Amla has already begun life beyond his playing days, currently working on the coaching staff of MI Cape Town in South Africa’s new SA20 franchise league. He has also been linked with a role as a batting coach in the national team set-up.
