Amla pleased with debut captaincy season
South Africa batsman Hashim Amla capped a successful debut season as captain of the Proteas following the two-nil series win over the West Indies on Tuesday, and has enjoyed the learning curve.
Amla, who scored a double ton in the first Test, has won four out of six matches (with two draws) in charge, and says he is becoming more familiar with the captaincy role.
Amla said after winning the third Test in Cape Town: "Certainly as captain you hope that you can learn more and more. I would say that after six matches I'm learning a lot more about the captaincy as well as Test cricket.
"I am fortunate that my tenure as captain has been a very short tenure to begin with, so it’s given me a lot of time to contemplate on it.
"Sri Lanka was the highlight for me because I don't think many people expected us to win there, we all know what a good team they are in Sri Lanka.
"In Zimbabwe we were almost expected to win and fortunately we did, and it was a little bit of the same against the West Indies."
The Proteas have capped four debutants since the beginning of the Test series in August, with all new caps showing maturity and confidence on the international stage.
Amla said: "What they (debutants) have brought to the team has been amazing. Guys like Temba (Bavuma), I look at Dane Piedt when he played in Zimbabwe, Stiaan here and Simon as well.
"They have brought a lot of energy to the team, a lot of freshness; everyone enjoyed having the debutants around. We were all a little bit nervous and excited to see how they would perform."
The Test team retained the ICC Test mace for a third consecutive year, but Amla believes the squad is far from a finished product.
He said: "To find the winning combination is still our main goal. We managed to win four Test matches out of six, but to be honest I think we still have a long way to go to find the right guys.
"The guys who have come in have done well, which is exceptional, but there will probably be some changes I'm sure."
Latest
-
NewsHeather Knight renews call for five-day Tests after South Africa draw
The last women’s Test to end in a victory either way was in 2015.
-
NewsRain forces draw between England and South Africa in Taunton Test
Heather Knight’s side had looked to close in on victory on the final day.
-
NewsEngland’s hopes of rare home Test victory dashed by bad weather at Taunton
Play against South Africa was eventually called off after four rain delays.
-
NewsWorkload of bowlers could be a game-changer, reveals Ben Stokes
The England captain has admitted he deliberately pushed his team-mates to the limit at Headingley.
-
NewsQ&A: Is Jos Buttler the right man for England white-ball captaincy?
Buttler has been confirmed as Eoin Morgan’s successor in the job.
-
NewsJos Buttler takes over from Eoin Morgan as England’s limited-overs captain
Morgan announced his retirement from international cricket on Tuesday.
-
NewsDom Sibley to return to Surrey from Warwickshire at end of the season
Sibley has played all of his 22 Tests since joining the Bears.
-
NewsJames Anderson returns for England’s Test against India
Sam Billings also comes in as Ben Foakes and Jamie Overton miss out on the Edgbaston contest.
-
NewsEngland name Sam Billings and James Anderson in XI for Test against India
Billings was drafted in at short notice for his second Test appearance against New Zealand last week as a Covid substitute for Ben Foakes.
-
NewsTemporary stand collapses ahead of second day between Sri Lanka and Australia
Cricket Australia confirmed no one was underneath the small makeshift seating area.