South African great Hashim Amla has announced his retirement from professional cricket at the age of 39 .
South Africa's cricket great Amla announces retirement
South Africa's Hashim Amla bats as India's captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni looks on during a Cricket World Cup match between India and South Africa in 2011
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An elegant right hand top order batter, Amla retired from international cricket in 2019 having scored 9,282 runs - second only to Jacques Kallis' 13,206 - at an average of 46.64 in 124 Test matches.
His 311 not out against England in 2012 at The Oval remains the highest Test score by a South African.
He also made a record 27 one-day centuries for the Proteas .
Amla ends his first class career with 19,521 runs at an average of 48.55 , with the last of his 57 first-class centuries coming back in September for Surrey in helping them win the 2022 County Championship in England.