Markram: Proteas are up for the challenge

Proteas batsman Aiden Markram (right) has said the team is mentally ready to face the challenges that come with touring in India as they continue their preparation for their three-match Test series starting on Wednesday in Visakhapatnam.

Before that highly anticipated fixture however, South Africa will play a three-day warm-up match against an invitational XI starting today in Vijayanagaram.

Speaking after the team’s rained out practice yesterday, the 24-year-old admitted that, while there may be some players who carry scars from their previous tour to the subcontinent nation, the language and mindset in the changeroom is about playing positively, “finding a way” to overcome their situations and not to dwell on the difficulty of the conditions.

“I remember watching that series a few years ago and it looked incredibly difficult. And I’m sure there’s a bit of baggage that certain players that were on that tour might still be carrying but that’s completely fine. I think it’s never an easy tour coming to anywhere in the subcontinent, let alone India.

“It’s full of challenges, but if we can conquer those challenges it will be really rewarding. The guys are positive and upbeat and we’re maintaining a really good language in the changeroom, a really strong language. At the end of the day, we’re not gonna harp on about conditions, we pretty much know what to expect and we just need to get the job done,” Markram said.

He joined the Test squad after scoring a fine 161 in the second of two four-day matches for the South Africa A team against their Indian counterparts in Mysore. The match ended in a draw, but the series was won 1-0 by India A after winning their first encounter by seven wickets.

Markram admitted that while it was nice to get some runs under his belt, he was fully aware that they would not be likely to receive wickets close to those they played on during the A tour.

“It was nice. From a personal perspective, it was nice to spend time out in the middle. I think the wickets we get (in the Proteas tour of India) will be a lot different to the wickets we got in the A series,” he explained.