When Mike Procter and his fellow selectors were sacked much ire was directed at the South African Cricket Board. Yes, they had just drawn the home test series with England, but it hadn't been long before that the side had won a test series in Australia. With Mickey Arthur also exiting, it seemed that the SACB had been ruthless to say the least especially with the tour of India only days away.
However, I am currently watching compelling evidence as to why Procter et al were dismissed. Who in their right mind could leave Hashim Amla out of the original ODI squad?
We've all seen over the last few weeks that Amla has turned into a formidable test batsman. Following his good performance against England, he turned into Bradman with a beard in the two tests against India with 490 runs, three centuries and only one dismissal.
But he is also an extremely good ODI batsman. Prior to his knock in the third ODI, where he just failed to produce yet another hundred, he averaged over 46 from 23 ODIs with a strike rate of 84. That is good by anyone's standards.
It seems that Procter, like many others, has underestimated the sheer quality of Amla. The tests and ODIs between India and South Africa have produced a feast of batting, and perhaps the biggest compliment to Amla is that he has looked worthy to stand alongside those Indian princes of batting - Sehwag, Laxman and of course the incomparable Tendulkar.
Hashim Amla has certainly laid down a 'drop me if you dare' message to the new South African selectors and management team.
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