Captain Hashim Amla has led from the front foot for South Africa

Teams need moments of inspiration from their leaders. By grinding down the opposition when he was not scoring, Graham Caygill says Proteas have reason to be content.

Hashim Amla took over the mantle of South Africa’s captain at the start of the two Tests against Sri Lanka. Dinuka Liyanawatte / Reuters

As far as debuts as a Test captain go, few could have had one as good as Hashim Amla has enjoyed.

Amla, 31, won in his first series in charge of the Proteas 1-0 in Sri Lanka, which lifted South Africa back above Australia to be No 1 in the world in the Test rankings.

A strong start that leaves down as the only way for him to go as Test captain.

But Amla’s captaincy, two Tests in, was notable for the way he led by example with the bat.

His unbeaten 139 at Colombo in the first innings of the second Test helped set up his side’s successful rearguard action, that earned them the draw on Monday they needed to clinch their first series success in Sri Lanka in 21 years.

But it was, in a way, his dogged second innings knock of 25 that showed more about his character.

South Africa had to bat the last day and 98 overs to secure the draw, not an easy task on a pitch offering more and more turn for slow bowlers Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera and Ajantha Mendis, as well as low bounce.

Amla was batting hurt, with a reportedly tight hamstring, yet that did not detract from his focus. His side was not going to lose.

He faced 159 balls for his 25, lasting almost three hours, as he frustrated the Sri Lankans.

At one stage, he played out 57 balls without scoring. Utter tedium to the casual observer, but to those admiring a captain’s determination, an impressive display of concentration.

Amla is one of cricket’s finest stroke players, his 22 Test hundreds often full of exquisite shots.

He is an artist, but at Galle he was not afraid to get gritty.

He faced 541 balls in the match, and spent 656 minutes at the crease in his mission to help his side save a Test, which was their only goal after the home side had scored 421 in their first innings.

His heroics sent out a message to his team. An inspiring one.

He will lead from the front and he will prove it.

It was a good way to start as being a captain can often be a thankless task. If the team is bad and you lose, you are still responsible.

If players fail to perform, some of it is down to you, as leader, for not getting the best out of them.

Amla only needs to look at England and Alastair Cook to see that. England are on their worst run in Tests for more than 20 years, batsmen are getting out cheaply, bowlers are bowling erratically, yet the flak is largely aimed at Cook.

Cook’s tactics in the field have left a lot to be desired, but until Sunday when he hit 95 in the third Test against India, the England captain had not been contributing with the bat. His poor performances only increased the pressure on him as a leader, despite the fact that few in the England team could be proud of how they played in the first two Tests against India.

Teams sometimes need that moment of inspiration from a leader. MS Dhoni has given India some big moments, most notably putting himself up the order in the 2011 World Cup final, while Sri Lanka’s win in England was largely down to Angelo Mathews’s 160.

A captain can be forgiven more easily for his team’s failings if he is contributing well.

Michael Atherton was England captain between 1993 and 1998, and won just three of the 12 series in which he led his country.

Yet he is still fondly regarded in England, mainly because it is acknowledged he had a poor side in that period.

His record as a batsman while leading the team also holds him in good stead as he batted well, most notably saving the second Test against South Africa in 1995 with a 10-hour vigil at the crease for an unbeaten 185.

Amla has inherited a good Proteas side but one in transformation, with his predecessor, Graeme Smith, and Jacques Kallis having both recently retired, leaving big holes to be filled.

In Dale Steyn he has arguably the most consistent pace bowler in the world, the 13 wickets he took in Sri Lanka, on tracks that traditionally lack pace, was fantastic.

Amla has got off on the right foot. He used his bowlers well and winning in Sri Lanka is a notable feather in his cap.

Harder challenges are ahead and Amla will need to lead from the front again when he takes the Proteas to Australia in November for a one-day international series to face arguably the most innovative captain around in Michael Clarke, and the pace of Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris.

But until then it is a case of so far so good for Amla.

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