Hashim Amla Exclusive Interview: The majestic batsman spoke about the importance of his religion, about his barely known character away from the field and he discussed his background in Durban.

Hashim Amla topped the averages and the run charts for South Africa on the first-class leg of their recent England tour, including a century in the first Test at Lord's, which helped to save the game. The stylish right-handed batsman has become a solid and dependable man for the Proteas at number three and is now looking to build on his encouraging progress in Test cricket by breaking into the one-day side also. He took time out of his team's hectic schedule to speak to Bigstrcricket.

You had a tough start in Test cricket didn’t you so it must make your recent success all the sweeter to know you came through?
No, my first three Tests didn’t go too well – one against India and two against England – but I was quite young at the time and have been able to reassess since then. I didn’t change much – a couple of thing here and there – but when I got back into Test cricket things went my way. It’s called Test cricket for a reason (laughs) and I struggled at first for a combination of things – I did get a couple of good deliveries also. But I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason.

It was felt by England back then that you were susceptible to short ball?
One thing is for sure at this level and that is that you are going to get tested. They bowled short at me in South Africa but I didn’t think at the time it was a tactic or anything. I was not a big hooker or puller of the ball, especially early on, so I just tried to get out of the away. Now I deal with it the same and will take a few on the body if I have to – it’s all part of the game if you want to survive, score some runs and just bat. The thing about batting for me is that you preserve your wicket and score some runs – whatever it takes.

What kind of a character are you?
I enjoy a bit of comedy and we have a few comedians in the team. With the intensity of cricket it’s important you have a few characters to liven the game up or lighten the mood. You can’t always be serious and intense all the time.

So are you a big prankster in the dressing room?
I’m not a big prankster but I enjoy it when the other guys the pranks going and you get involved here and there. I’ve seen a few pranks go wrong though so I try and stay away (laughs), but they are not something I can tell the media. You have to make sure you enjoy what you are doing whether things are going well or not.

You religion is clearly important to you but just how much?
The importance of my religion has increased as I have got older. I couldn’t put a timeframe on it but I have found that following the Islamic way of life has a lot of beauty to it. Although I was born into a Muslim family I wasn’t always practicing. The more I have understood the differences in the various faiths I have adopted as much of Islam as possible. I’m certainly no saint but the discipline of the Islamic way of life has helped my cricket without a doubt. I don’t drink and I pray five times a day, which gives stability to my daily routine.

Why do you think it is that your profile is quite low in the world’s media despite averaging almost 60 since November?
Your profile is built on how the media sees you and I don’t try to be somebody I am not. If I am seen as a quiet guy all well and good, but I will just continue to be who I am. In cricket your circumstances change and I think it is key to remain constant whether you are up or down. I don’t intend on putting on an act for anybody – this is basically who I am.

Can you tell us about your background?
I come from a small town 40 kilometres north of Durban. I played a lot of sport at primary school like cricket, soccer, tennis, table tennis. I was brought up in a predominantly Asian community but I later went to Durban High School, which had a good sporting heritage and my Dad encouraged me to go there and paid the fees for me to go. Fortunately after the first year I got a bursary as I was good at sport and got looked after.

What was cricket like at school level and did you play against anyone we might know?
There was a lot of intensity in our school cricket and that helped prepare me for later life. We used to say ‘we have a big game this week’ and felt a part of it. I actually played against AB (de Villiers) and Graeme (Smith) – we do speak about those days now and again.

Hashim Amla was speaking to Richard Sydenham