Hashim Amla kicks aside Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting as he names his all-time favourites

South African legend Hashim Amla recently picked Brian Lara, Steve Waugh, and former teammate Jacques Kallis as his three favourite players after he was asked to name the three best players of all time.

The choice of players took everyone by surprise, as it did not include legends like former Indian batter Sachin Tendulkar or Australian legend Ricky Ponting. These two are the highest run-getters across both formats, until Kumar Sangakkara and Virat Kohli surpassed Ponting's record in ODIs.

However, the players whom the former South African opener has named are undoubtedly some of the greatest batters cricket has ever seen.

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Hashim Amla picks Three Greats as favourite batters of all-time

In a recent video found on Star Sports, Amla was asked to pick the three best batters if he were given the role to pick a world playing XI. He might have left out several legends, but he went on to pick three greats of the game as well.

“A really tough one. There are so many over the years. Growing up, my three favourite players were [Brian] Lara, Steve Waugh, and Jacques Kallis, also being from South Africa," Hashim Amla has been found saying on Star Sports.

Hashim Amla reveals his top 3 batters at the World Championship of Legends… and drops a name he’s got his eyes on! 👀#WCL2025 👉 IND Champions vs SA Champions | TUE, 22nd JULY, 9 PM | LIVE on Star Sports Network pic.twitter.com/P1PtiUrV1h

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 20, 2025

The players Amla picked included former West Indies great Brian Lara, who has played 131 Tests and 299 ODIs for the nation, amassing a total of 22,358 runs throughout his career. He is to date the highest run-getter for the West Indies across all formats.

Australian great Steve Waugh was also in Amla's list of great batters. He was a middle-order batter and represented Australia in 168 Tests and 325 ODIs, which also included the 1999 ICC ODI World Cup, where he, as captain, led Australia to their second ICC CWC title. Waugh scored 10927 (Test) and 7569 (ODI) runs, while picking 287 wickets across his long career.

The list features former South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis, often regarded as one of the greatest in the history of cricket. He has played in 519 international matches across all three formats, with 25,534 runs, averaging nearly 50, and 577 wickets with the ball.

More players picked by Amla, yet no Sachin Tendulkar or Ricky Ponting

After having named these three first as the greatest batters, Hashim Amla went on to name three more players who are also very fine batters, two being modern cricketers and one dating back to almost his birth years.

He named Indian veteran Virat Kohli, South African legend AB de Villiers, and West Indies legend Sir Vivian Richards, among the other three.

"But also maybe three other names; In that Virat [Kohli], you know the recent times, AB de Villiers, and I’d say one more old one - Sir Vivian Richards," added Hashim Amla.

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Hashim Amla is currently part of the South Africa Legends in the WCL

Hashim Amla might not have had the longest of careers as a player of his calibre, but the right-handed batter still is the third-highest run-getter in the history of South African cricket.

In 346 international matches, Amla has represented South Africa across all three formats, amassing a huge 18,553 runs at an average of 46.49. With 55 hundred to his name, he now features for South Africa in the World Championship of Legends.

The 42-year-old was part of South Africa's playing XI against West Indies Legends in the last WCL match, where he scored 15 off 18 balls in Birmingham. South Africa eventually won the game in a bowl-out after it ended in a tie within the normal limit of the game. Their next game is against the India Legends.