SECOND TEST: DAY FIVE BAT’S IT: AMLA QUITS
Skipper’s surprise call SCOTT’S TRIBAL QUEST
HASHIM AMLA dramatically quit as South Africa’s skipper yesterday – hours after his side failed to pull off a famous win.
The news emerged after Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali – with the help of bad light – guided England to safety on the last day after a dramatic collapse.
AB de Villiers will take over as skipper for the remaining two games, starting with the third Test in Johannesburg next Thursday.
Amla, who hit 201 in the first innings, said: “This decision is not an easy one, but the more I think about it, the more I believe I can be of greater value as a fully focused batsman and senior player at this time of rebuilding our team.”
Amla, who took over from Graeme Smith in 2014, said he had been considering quitting over the last fortnight. He came in for heavy criticism following a 3-0 series defeat in India and again after England won the first Test in Durban by 241 runs.
He added: “It’s a bit of a relief. I feel there is a greater need to work on my own game. I believe there is still a great deal I can offer the team and look forward to contributing to their success.”
England skipper Alastair Cook, whose side threatened to become the first to score 600-plus in the first innings and lose, said: “Jonny and Mo calmed a few nerves.
“We’d like to have done it two or three down, but that never is the English way, is it?
“A few people came over to watch, so we thought we’d make it exciting.
“I was pretty happy with MAKE HIS MARK: Taylor is fired up our performance but missed chances cost us the victory.
“Some were half-chances, but Chris Morris took two half-chances for them.
“It was frustrating and the game would have looked very different if we could have managed to do that.”
A combination of bowlerfriendly conditions and poor shots reduced England to 116-6 – a lead of just 118 – and Bairstow was very relieved to get the benefit of a review after he was almost stumped off Dean Elgar. SCOTT TAYLOR makes no secret of his dream of turning hometown club Hull into title winners. But the new signing is keeping one thing under wraps – and that’s an embarrassing tattoo. The 24-year-old forward said: “It’s my dad’s fault. I was only 14 or 15 and begged and begged and eventually he gave in.
“It’s a bad tribal one on my back and no-one will ever see it, apart from the missus and the lads in the showers.”
Taylor, who started his career with city rivals Rovers before moving to Wigan, prefers to make his mark on the pitch and is desperate to turn sleeping giants Hull into Super League silverware contenders.
He said: “The problem Hull have had in the past is that they have not had the right balance of players.
“The people brought in now are true professionals, people who give 100 per cent and have the right attitude.
“I think we’re building a culture and nothing in my eyes but the top four will be acceptable this year.”
Meanwhile, Huddersfield Giants could use some of the cash from the Brett Ferres sale on signing former Hull KR centre Macauley Hallett.