Proteas white-ball captain Aiden Markram hopes the time spent in the middle in the third One-Day International against Afghanistan will set up nicely to pile on the runs during the rest of the year.
The unbeaten 69 in the dead rubber in Sharjah was Markram’s first white-ball half-century this year, and will give him a bit of confidence heading into the T20 series against Ireland, which starts Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
Markram has managed just 176 runs at an average of 16 in 12 T20 International matches this year. His highest score came at the T20 World Cup when he stroked a 46 against the United States.
This is rather concerning for the captain and a player of his undoubted ability.
But Markram feels that knock against Afghanistan did him the world of good, and can help him kick-on in all formats ahead of a busy schedule for the Proteas.
“It was nice ... obviously I wanted to do it earlier when it could have positively influenced the result of the series,” Markram said.
Spin basher Aiden Markram owning Afghan spinners.🥵![CDATA[]]>🔥
Best middle order batsman right now.!!
pic.twitter.com/hBcolPZaCX
“I suppose you take it for what it was at the time. Although the series was done, it was still game of cricket to play and a game to represent your country. You would pretty much kill to get a good result in whichever game it is.
“Ultimately, I could get some time in the middle and get some form back. Hopefully I can use that in this series [against Ireland] and for the rest of the year.”
The Proteas will again blood a few youngsters in the T20 series against Ireland, which could add some more pressure on the senior players in the team to perform.
The Proteas experimented with a rookies in the recent T20 series against the Windies after the World Cup, which they lost 3-0. They also went down 2-1 to Afghanistan in the ODI series.
However, Markram says it’s more more about leading from the front instead of feeling the pressure to perform with many newbies in the team.
“I wouldn’t say we feel extra pressure. We are all highly competitive people as South Africans and as sportsman ... it’s never nice to lose,” Markram said.
“So when things don’t go according to plan, you as an experienced player obviously do look at it deeper ... how you as an individual player could have made a better difference in the game to hopefully change the result.
“Going into the series, there isn’t that feeling of additional pressure, but definitely that feeling of wanting to step up if you have a bit more experience, to lead from the front and show the way forward to the guys who are a bit younger and newer.”
South Africa T20I squad against Ireland
Aiden Markram (captain, Titans), Ottneil Baartman (Dolphins), Matthew Breetzke (Warriors), Nandre Burger (Western Province), Bjorn Fortuin (Lions), Reeza Hendricks (Lions), Patrick Kruger (Warriors), Wiaan Mulder (Lions), Lungi Ngidi (Titans), Nqaba Peter (Lions), Ryan Rickelton (Lions), Andile Simelane (Dolphins), Jason Smith (Dolphins), Tristan Stubbs (Warriors) and Lizaad Williams (Titans).
@JohnGoliath82