Conventional wisdom suggests you should never meet your heroes. But what if your day job thrusts you alongside your champion? What if you not only perform the same role as him but have been touted as his potential replacement? Welcome to Zubayr Hamza's world.

"I grew up idolising Hashim Amla," Hamza told Cricbuzz shortly after his inclusion in South Africa's thirteen man squad for the upcoming three-Test series against Pakistan starting on Boxing Day in Centurion. "He has been a hero of mine for most of my life. Just to be spoken about in the same sentence as him is a great honour."

He continues: "At first I was nervous to talk to him but he is so approachable. He is always happy to offer advice and we've had a few dinners together. I've already learned so much from him about batting, about being a professional, about how to conduct yourself in a change room. He's also very funny. Even if it adds some pressure I don't mind the comparisons."

That is comforting to know for those who wish him well. The comparisons aren't going to stop.

For one thing, both right-handers prefer to bat at three and represent the Cape Cobras franchise in South Africa's first-class competition. Both relish batting for long periods and can soak up pressure and probing spells until bowlers knees turn to jelly. At that moment, he unfurls a volley of counter punches. And, in a country gripped by identity politics, it is impossible to ignore their similar skin tones or that they share the same faith.

There is no escaping that the powers of Amla are on the wane. He has scored just three Test centuries in the last two years - two against Bangladesh, one against Sri Lanka, all on favourable home wickets - and has seen his average dip to 47.23, below par for a player of his calibre.

Does Hamza's call-up herald a new dawn? Has Cricket South Africa's conveyor belt managed to churn out a Hashim Amla 2.0?

"I can only be Zubayr Hamza 1.0," the young man says with a chuckle. "I can't go out and try and be like Hashim Amla. There will never be another player exactly like him. The way he scores runs, the way he hits the ball, his flourishing back-lift; he's such a special player and human. If given the chance I will go out and be the best version of me that I can be."

Hamza grew up in the shadows of Table Mountain in leafy Rondebosch where he cut his teeth at the prestigious all-boys high school that bears the suburbs' name. Walking the same corridors and facing throw downs in the same nets as Gary Kirsten and Jonathan Trott, Hamza received all the cricketing education he needed.

"I wasn't one of those guys who went to private coaching," he said. "The level of coaching at the school, as well as the history of the place, were enough for me. I started life as a fast bowler but when I realised that I wasn't growing fast enough I made the switch."

He would go on to represent the South African Schools team as well as Western Province Under-19s. Though he missed out on selection for the triumphant Under-19 World Cup squad of 2014, captained by Aiden Markram and boasting Kagiso Rabada and Andile Phehlukwayo, Hamza knuckled down and kept churning out runs at first class level.

That same year, at 19 years and 113 days, he became the fourth youngest South African to score a double ton at that level by registering an unbeaten 202 against Namibia. In doing so he provided a demonstration of his immense powers of concentration, arguably the most potent weapon he possess in his batting arsenal.

"To be honest it's not something that comes naturally to me and is something I'm constantly fighting," Hamza confesses. "My main objective when batting time is to keep doing the basics for as long as possible. That's something I've learned from watching the experienced players, Hash included. You don't have to be extraordinary all the time. You just have to keep doing the ordinary things well in extraordinary moments."

Next to Hamza's bed side table is the book 'The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do, and How to Change' by Charles Duhigg. By examining the traits and rituals of legendary figures as varied as Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps to civil-rights activist Martin Luther King Jr., the author has drawn links between success and habit.

"The book has helped me on and off the field," Hamza discloses, suggesting a fair degree of introspection, another trait he shares with Amla. "Repetition - that is the key to success. Of course you need to adapt but in order to get the most out of what you have it's important to keep working and working until the things you need to do out in the middle become second nature."

Apart from his choice in literature, Hamza credits his franchise coach Ashwell Prince for developing his mental fortitude. When the former Proteas batsmen took charge of the Cobras last year he found a team in disrepair and languishing at the bottom of the four-day first class competition. Now, after six matches of the 2018-19 season, the Western Cape outfit are sitting pretty at the top of the table with five victories.

"Ashwell has instilled the same values in me that made him so successful," Hamza said. "His attitude and work ethic are both inspiring. He'll admit that he was never the most gifted but his record [66 Tests, 3655 runs at 41.64, 11 hundreds] shows that he got the most of what he had. His mental strength is just incredible."

Prince is equally complimentary of his young charge: "He has everything he needs to make it at the highest level," he said. "Mentally and in terms of his skill he ticks every box."

From 52 first-class matches Hamza has scored 3648 runs at 49.29 with nine centuries and 23 fifties. Last year he plundered 828 runs from nine matches at 69 and earned a call-up to the South Africa 'A' team that toured India in August, averaging 52 from the two unofficial Tests.

If selected, Hamza will wear the number '100' on his cap. It will mark a seminal moment for the new, racially unified South Africa that restarted the Test cap counter when the Proteas were welcomed back to international cricket in 1991. For other, more cynical, fans, it will serve as a reminder that those who played in the sepia-toned era, including legends like Barry Richards and Graeme Pollock, have been forgotten.

"I try not to focus on those sorts of things," Hamza says, stating that he does not wish to find himself in the middle of any conversation around politics. "The number on my cap won't be important. All that will matter is the badge on the front."

He may have to wait a little while yet. Despite the absence of the recently retired AB de Villiers, The Proteas top and middle order looks set. Aiden Markram and Dean Elgar have formed a formidable opening partnership and Theunis de Bruyn and Temba Bavuma showed enough in Sri Lanka to be confident of their place in the side. With Faf du Plessis nailed on as captain and Quinton de Kick secure as the swashbuckling keeper/batsman, the last remaining position up for grabs is the one occupied by Hamza's hero.

"I can tell you, Hash is not going anywhere and still has a lot to offer," Hamza said, sweeping aside any talk that Amla's trademark wrists have lost their snap. "Class is permanent and he is pure class. I'm patient. I have time on my side. For now, I'm just happy to be a part of the squad and learn as much as I can."

South Africa's Test future is full of potential. In Kagiso Rabada and Lungisani Ngidi they have a fast bowling union with the potential to be as good as Ambrose-Walsh, Younis-Akram or Donald-Pollock. Keshav Maharaj has the potential to be his country's best ever spinner and Markram and de Kock have the potential to be the best players in the world in their positions.

It was in the middle order where things looked unsteady. The hole left by AB de Villiers will taking a long time to fill as will the one left by Faf du Plessis when he calls it a day.

It is far to early to tell, and the comparison could serve as a ballast rather than a springboard, but in Zubayr Hamza there appears to be an appropriate plug for the gargantuan hole that Hashim Amla will leave. If he can follow in the footsteps of his hero, Hamza 1.0 could be someone who inspires adulation for future generations.