Amla also remained unsold in the recently concluded IPL and has stated that the long break has only helped him. The time off the field has only made him hungrier and has also claimed of having a strong record in England, which should mentally boost him.

“Things happen that you don’t anticipate. I did not anticipate how things have gone recently. But I am a firm believer that when something happens, there is some good in it. I have had time away and now I am really looking back to wearing the green and gold again. I am hungrier than ever before, there is no doubt about that. I have been blessed to have this shirt for a while, but the time off has made me want to come back stronger. This is my third (World Cup) so I know what it is all about. I have a strong record in England and I have always enjoyed coming here,” Amla said, reported ICC.

“It is the best first game we could have asked for. We have played England recently and had some success against them, I have done well against them too. This year, you don’t see the same big names and that is why the focus is not on us but that has some good in it. There has not been much chat about us winning in comparison to the past, but I don’t think that played a part in how we performed. At the end of the day, we always gave our best and played to win. The fact there has not been a lot of chat at this World Cup means there is less expectation but in the team we think we can do well.”