Hashim Amla is arguably the best batsman in the world.
His magnificent record in Test cricket against all nations and his uncanny ability to play all around the wicket makes him one the most difficult batsman to bowl to.
His unorthodox technique has been responsible for twenty hundreds at an average of 51.34.
Amla has started this series against Australia poorly by his own standards.
In both innings he has been a clear threat to Australia as they know the danger he can provide. As a number three, he has a solid technique and many strokes against both the quicks and the spinners.
However the Australians have bowled exceptionally well to him in both innings so far.
In the first innings Amla came in early after Mitchell Johnson bounced out Graeme Smith. He looked nervous early but not due to Mitchell Johnson, but due to Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle.
Amla was able to preserve early until he eventually succumbed to the dogged Peter Siddle who had him off one that kept a little low and jagged back, catching Hashim leg before for 17 of 54 balls.
In the second innings, Amla again came in early under pressure with South Africa in dire straights at 2/12.
This time Amla worked well as lunch came and opened up with de Villiers after lunch, before again Ryan Harris worked him over as he went for 35 caught at first slip by Marsh.
Fair enough to say that Hashim didn’t play a great shot in the first innings but the way they bowled to him was exceptional. Amla has a trigger to push backwards and towards to off stump as the bowler delivers the ball.
He then pushes forwards or stays back punching the ball to all areas of the field. Therefore the corridor line to Amla is not as effective as with his trigger the balls in the corridor leave Amla to play a simple forward defence.
On the other hand, balls on his pads are flicked away through mid-wicket gloriously, as he is so lethal and damaging if the ball is just a fraction to straight.
This makes the South African number three a very hard batsman to bowl to. Mitchell Johnson has been dangerous to all South African batsman, but Amla is able to use his pace effectively as he plays the ball under his eyes and late.
Harris and Siddle are two different obstacles for Amla and are perfect options for Clarke.
In both innings Clarke looked for these guys to provide this breakthrough for the Aussies, and didn’t they do it well?
Siddle and Harris are both line and length bowlers looking to put pressure on the batsman and draw them into a false shot through their dogged bowling and repetition.
Amla was clearly bogged down in the first innings, and Siddle was able to make the breakthrough with a brilliant ball that jagged back off the seam.
Harris however bowled the perfect line to Hashim Amla.
As stated above, bowling in the corridor is not the best option when bowling to Amla as his trigger to his off stump leaves him playing a simple forward defence to these balls. Harris and the Australians have understood this, and have bowled wider off the off stump into what I would call Amla’s corridor.
In dismissal of Amla in the second innings showed Harris bowling the ball just wider of the corridor and this in the line to Amla.
Providing the ball is kept full, Amla will like to drive it on the offside as they are obviously wide of the off-stump. However due to his trigger he tends to nick these balls towards the keeper and slips as he plays balls to close to his body.
The Australians have done their homework on Hashim. This wider line to the great batsman has got him bogged down in the crease and struggling for fluency with his batting in the first Test match.
Such execution by the Australians can only help their chances against both Hashim and the South African batsmen for the rest of the series.
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