Hashim Amla, who played for Nottinghamshire during their Championship winning season of 2010, is back in the East Midlands.

The South African Test star is on a short-term contract with Derbyshire and admits he’s relishing having another stint over here.

“I’ve actually enjoyed all of the county stints I’ve had,” he reveals. “Because it’s usually during our off season and I use it as preparation for myself ahead of internationals. We have a series happening in Bangladesh in early July, so it just gives me the opportunity of playing some cricket before then.”

Amla admits to being excited about the start of the NatWest T20 Blast competition. “Last year I played three or four matches in the Blast for Surrey and I thought it was very good fun. Any t20 is exciting and any scores are gettable.

“It is an unusual format, spread across the season and I suppose it makes it a tad more difficult for professionals to come in and just play t20s but from my perspective, it fits in nicely into my schedule.

“I can play for four or five weeks, get some t20s and some championship matches as well, so it’s turned out nicely for me.”

Five years ago Amla averaged over 77 in the five first-class matches he played for Notts, rattling up one century and five fifties to the delight of the Trent Bridge fans. The 32-year old says he looks back fondly on his brief time at the club.

“I remember we had a very successful team and we won the competition. I remember I was around for the first four or five games and I had a great time.

“They were a great bunch of guys, the players and coaching staff were wonderful and I had a wonderful time. We were winning and playing a really positive brand of cricket and I enjoyed it very much.

“I was fortunate that I managed to get some runs during the time that I was there. I made some good friends in Nottingham and I believe Trent Bridge is a lovely place to play cricket.

“There’s a lot of tradition there but it’s also a lovely stadium and the wicket was quite spicy and I remember that, although we won the first four championship matches, there were some three-day wins amongst them. Games finished quite early because it was quite a sporting wicket but to get runs at Trent Bridge and for Notts meant I had a really good time.”

This season Vernon Philander has become the first South African to join the Trent Bridge staff since Amla’s time, and the batsman confesses he did have a word with his international team-mate about the move.

“He asked me many months ago what the set up was like at Notts. I could only say that I had a wonderful time and I’m sure Vernon is having a great time there now.

“I did say to him that the wicket tends to help the bowlers a little bit more and I think he’s been enjoying himself. He’s a wonderful cricketer, one of the best bowlers in the world and a true professional.

“He will rock up and take wickets but he also loves helping the other people in the squad. That, for me, is why I enjoy having him in our Test team and our one-day set-up. He’ll contribute and help anyone he can.”

Amla confesses that he’s already looking forward to a home Test series against England, later this year.

“We’ve got lots to look forward to. We go to Bangladesh, then to India for a short while and then we play England in our summer, so lots of cricket this year and I’m really looking forward to it.”

A scourge of bowling attacks, the world over, Amla says he has no plans of packing up for a long time yet.

“Who doesn’t enjoy batting and trying to score runs? In cricket we have ups and downs, that’s the nature of the game but it’s been really enjoyable so far and hopefully, God willing, I’ll have a few more years left in me yet.”

 

Notts Outlaws NatWest T20 Blast Fixtures & Ticket Information

v Yorkshire Vikings – Friday 22 May 6.30pm BUY TICKETS
v Durham Jets – Sunday 31 May 2.30pm BUY TICKETS
v Leicestershire Foxes – Friday 5 June 6.30pm BUY TICKETS
v Northamptonshire Steelbacks – Saturday 27 June 2.30pm BUY TICKETS
v Worcestershire Rapids – Friday 3 July 6.30pm BUY TICKETS
v Derbyshire Falcons – Friday 10 July 6.30pm BUY TICKETS

Need more information? Call our ticket office on 0844 8118711.