Hashim Amla Picks His All-Time Best ODI 11, 3 Indians included: Former South African captain and legendary batsman Hashim Amla recently revealed his all-time best ODI XI during Shubhankar Mishra’s YouTube podcast. Amla’s team includes several cricketing legends, including three Indians, three South Africans, and two Australians. No players from England or New Zealand were included in his team.
Openers and top order
Amla chose two legends, India’s Sachin Tendulkar and Australia’s Adam Gilchrist, as opening batsmen for his team. Tendulkar is the highest run-scorer in international cricket.
India’s star batsman Virat Kohli, who has scored the most centuries in ODI cricket, is ranked third.
Strong middle order and all-rounders
Amla has selected three excellent batsmen to strengthen the middle order:
- West Indies’ legendary batsman Brian Lara (10,405 ODI runs).
- South Africa’s explosive batsman AB de Villiers (9,577 ODI runs).
- South Africa’s legendary all-rounder Jacques Kallis. Kallis not only scored 11,579 runs but also took 273 wickets with his medium pace bowling.
Wicketkeeper and finisher
Amla expressed confidence in former India captain and ‘Captain Cool’ MS Dhoni as a wicketkeeper-batsman. Dhoni is the second-highest run-scorer among wicketkeeper-batsmen in this format, after Kumar Sangakkara, and is also an excellent finisher.
Balanced bowling attack
In the bowling department, Amla has chosen a combination of two spinners and two fast bowlers, which provides excellent balance to the team.
Spinners:
- Sri Lanka’s legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, the highest wicket-taker in international cricket.
- Australia’s legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne.
Fast bowlers:
- Pakistan’s Sultan of Swing Wasim Akram, who is Pakistan’s highest wicket-taker in ODIs.
- One of South Africa’s most dangerous fast bowlers Dale Steyn, who took 194 ODI wickets in his career.
Hashim Amla’s All-Time ODI 11
- Sachin Tendulkar (India)
- Adam Gilchrist (Australia)
- Virat Kohli (India)
- Brian Lara (West Indies)
- AB de Villiers (South Africa)
- Jacques Kallis (South Africa)
- MS Dhoni (India)
- Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka)
- Shane Warne (Australia)
- Wasim Akram (Pakistan)
- Dale Steyn (South Africa)
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