Hashim Mahomed Amla will be fondly remembered by many at Trent Bridge following his short stint with the club in early 2010.

With regular overseas recruit David Hussey occupied with the Kolkata Knight Riders and Australia in the World Twenty20, Mick Newell turned his attention to securing the services of the South African run machine.

Amla, who had previously had a stint with Essex, signed up for a seven week spell at Trent Bridge.

Making his debut for the club against Durham University, Amla scored 86 from 128 balls as Nottinghamshire amassed 505-5 declared from 108 overs.

"It would be wrong to forget the huge contribution of the man from Natal in the early months of the 2010 season."

He then followed this up with a hundred on his County Championship debut, in the club’s opening fixture of the season against Kent at Trent Bridge.

The 2006 South African Cricketer of the Year hit 129 as Chris Read’s side won by an innings and 32 runs to get their title winning season off to the best possible start.

Scores of 58 and 64 not out followed in his next match against Somerset, guiding the tail home to victory in pursuit of 250 to maintain the Outlaws 100% Championship record.

Spells opening the batting in the CB40 competition followed for the diminutive South African, as Notts were beaten by East Midlands rivals the Leicestershire Foxes at Grace Road before defeating Hampshire by 35 runs in a rain affected game on the south coast.

In the Championship fixture starting a couple of days later at the same ground, Amla failed for the first time in Nottinghamshire colours, making just 5 in the first innings.

However, in the second innings, Amla passed 50 again, making 54, as Mick Newell’s side won their third Championship match in a row by 5 wickets.

Amla then contributed 67 on what was to be his final appearance at Trent Bridge as Nottinghamshire recorded their biggest Championship win of the season, by an innings and 62 runs against Will Smith’s Durham.

And whilst many will point to Adam Voges’ last day hundred at Old Trafford or Stuart Broad’s 8-52 to blow Warwickshire away at Edgbaston as defining points of that Championship winning season, it would be wrong to forget the huge contribution of the man from Natal in the early months of the 2010 season.