'Less hype around us this time' - Amla

व्

A

Hashim Amla raising his bat in celebration has been a common site in ODIs over the past nine months © Associated Press Enlarge

South Africa's World Cup squad feels "more excitement than pressure," as they go in search of the country's first piece of ICC silverware in 13 years. The team is widely regarded as the best never to have a won a World Cup, despite going into every tournament as one of the hot favourites.

"In previous years, the squad had a lot of big name players and was even ranked number one in the ODI rankings so there was a lot of expectation," Hashim Amla told ESPNcricinfo. "There is a little less hype around us this time."

Eleven of the 15 squad members that will travel to this month's World Cup have never played in the global showpiece before and many of those players will form the core of South Africa's team. Amla is one of them, and is already regarded as a stalwart in the side, though he has only played 42 ODIs. "I feel like a senior player," he said. '"I haven't played many matches compared to guys like Graeme [Smith] and Jacques [Kallis] so I still regard every match as a learning experience. I don't claim as to know everything about one-day cricket but I do feel like senior player."

That feeling may stem from the fact that Amla has had a stunning last nine months in the game, in which he has scored six of his seven ODI centuries. Over that time, he has surged to the top of the ODI batting rankings and carved his own niche in the shorter form of the game, despite being initially painted as someone who could only play Test cricket.

Amla said the improvements in his strike rate are not as a result of any major shift in mindset, but more a reflection of his growth as a cricketer. "It helped to play a few Test matches before making it into the one-day side because I got to know my own game. When I started off in the one-day side, it took me a while to find my rhythm." When he found that groove, he found it perfectly and Amla now boasts an average of 59.88 and a strike rate of close to 94.

The Amla that batted in last month's ODI series against India was the Amla that had come full circle from those first stuttering days in coloured clothing. He scored, by his own admission, two "swashbuckling" fifties before stabilising to end the series with a century. That innings, at Centurion, was near perfect, timed exquisitely and played as though it was set to a script. Amla hopes he can continue in that vein in the World Cup. "I am going to try and strike a balance between being positive upfront by scoring as quickly as I can and making sure I stay at the crease for as long as possible."

Time at the wicket for the top order is vital because South Africa's soft underbelly, the batting in the middle-to-lower order, was exposed against India. Kallis' return to full fitness will solve some of the problem but there is still concern over the relative inexperience at number six and seven, and the lack of a big-hitting all-rounder in the mould of Lance Klusener. Amla, however, is certain that the likes of Faf du Plessis and Colin Ingram can do the job. "Someone in the top order should aim to bat through to at least the 40th over so that the lower can capitalise on that. Those guys might not be the same as Albie Morkel or Mark Boucher but they can hit the ball hard, they run well between the wickets and they are relatively unknown to the opposition."

South Africa are banking on the element of surprise with both bat and ball, having included uncapped legspinner Imran Tahir in the squad as well. Amla warned against loading too much pressure on the Pakistani-born player. "We shouldn't put all our hopes on Imran. He is a quality player with a lot of first-class experience and he should be allowed to settle into the team at this level."

Tahir is one of five spinners that South Africa have at their disposal and although he is expected to make the biggest impact, Amla said that seasoned campaigner Johan Botha may the man who makes headlines. "He has done a great job for us over the years and is a very intelligent bowler. He may not be known as a wicket-taker but he controls the middle portion of an innings and if the runs need to be dried up, he is the go-to man."

Spin and the subcontinent go together like vanilla ice-cream and chocolate sauce and while South Africa are making sure they have enough players who can bowl spin, they are also preparing for many overs of facing spin. "We got a taste of what to expect against India when they rotated many bowlers against us during the one-day series. Spin will play a big role."

South Africa's once-dodgy record of playing against spin has improved significantly in recent times and although they don't look obvious favourites for the tournament this time, when Amla describes the players they have at their disposal, they have all the elements to be top contenders. That means that's even though it's understated, the pressure to be crowned World Champions does hang over them. It might be why Amla says he is "quite keen to get on the plane and get the tournament started."