Double blow for Surrey.

[Newby]

Not only has Hashim Amla announced his retirement from all forms of cricket but Jamie Overton has joined the long list of England fast bowlers with a stress fracture of the back.

Overton was playing in one or other of the T20 franchise leagues, which is probably the last place he should have been. I'm not a fan but good luck to him on the long road to recovery.

Amla is 39 and has scored 19,521 first class runs at 48.55, including 124 Tests. Not to be sneezed at.

 

[Tykemania]

Oh well. I'm sure they will recruit a couple of players from parts unknown to replace them!

 

[Karma]

Indeed. Who actually said that, "you can't buy success?"

 

[DaveMorton]

Obviously, Overton and Amla were both products of their Academy.

I shared a lift with Amla in a Joburg hotel. "Nets optional tomorrow," he said to a teammate, as he got into the lift.

"You stay away from those nets," I told him. "We don't want you improving." We had beaten them in three days at the Wanderers. Root and Broad. Amla had been caught, brilliantly, by Tich Taylor, off Broad's bowling.

He just laughed. A very brief encounter, but he came across as relaxed and pleasant. I've said it before. Most f-c cricketers are excellent role models. I'm not sure that applies to JamieO, however.