Is Markram a skipper in the wings?
JOHANNESBURG: If there was a pathway being mapped out for Aiden Markram to assume the mantle as Proteas captain, it became clearer and smoother at this week’s announcement that he’d be captaining the SA A four-day side in England in June.
Markram has certainly made an impact with the Titans this season, across formats and in terms of his growth as an individual and as a player. He’s got some pretty big supporters backing him for a Proteas call-up – although there will naturally be some doubt about the objectivity of Titans coach Mark Boucher and AB de Villiers, Markram’s franchise teammate.
Markram’s qualities as a player have been there for all to see throughout last season but those who are preaching that he needs more time, have outlined how his consistency could do with improving. At 22, the consistency will come.
For now, the national selectors are keen on giving his captaincy credentials a run, and there really is no better time than with that SA A tour. Markram will be surrounded by familiar faces in Heino Kuhn and close mate Heinrich Klaasen, while Lungi Ngidi and Junior Dala are also Titans teammates. In Khaya Zondo, Theunis de Bruyn and Dane Piedt there are a few franchise captains whose brains he’ll tap into and of course there’s Dale Steyn to provide another veteran voice.
There isn’t any kind of search on for a new Proteas skipper just at the moment, and given Faf du Plessis’ success last season there doesn’t appear to be a need to hastily throw someone into the mix. However, Cricket SA and the selectors were scarred by the leadership vacuum that emerged when Graeme Smith stepped aside in 2014, and they are rightly keen to avoid being stung again.
Markram is an obvious choice given the success he had with the national Under19 side. However, success at junior level doesn’t always translate to success at senior professional level. He has, as convenor of selectors Linda Zondi outlined, not yet captained at franchise level, although that will probably change next season.
Markram expressed an enthusiasm to captain at professional level prior to last season’s Momentum One-Day Cup final. “I’ve enjoyed captaincy my whole life,” he said in an interview.
“I would love to be captain (the Titans), I love the challenge of it, the responsibility, but if it never happened then I would be Okay with that. I believe you can still be a leader, no matter your age, whether you are the captain or not,” said Markram.
“I try to keep thinking ... I know as a captain that it’s nice when players come to you with ideas.
“Sometimes you can get so caught up in the game, the pressure, you can forget the odd basic thing. I don’t like to get too involved either, there is a line. After the game I might go to Albie (Morkel), ask him why he did this or why he did that and try and understand his thoughts. I develop like that too.”
Zondi is excited by the possibilities that leadership development offers South African cricket and for his selection panel and Cricket South Africa it would certainly make life easier if they knew they had the next skipper waiting in the wings.