Proteas start shake-up
MARKRAM WILL MAKE HIS TEST DEBUT AGAINST BANGLADESH ‘Aiden makes big hundreds and he has shown his class and quality’.
Proteas convenor of selectors Linda Zondi said yesterday that they have been mulling over Aiden Markram’s inclusion in the Test squad for a while, but the way the 22-year-old has stepped up his game in the last couple of months sealed the deal for the opening batsman who will make his debut against Bangladesh next week in Potchefstroom.
“Aiden has been in our plans for a while and was brought into the system in England, just to learn and be around the squad as backup to Faf du Plessis. But whenever he’s been given an opportunity, he doesn’t just make runs, he makes big hundreds and he has shown his class and quality since then.
“He’s ready for a Test opportunity now because he’s definitely gone a notch up in his batting and I’ve seen big changes in the manner in which he is constructing his runs. He’s also a good leader and it’s a good move to bring him in with the rebuilding ahead because we have a few senior guys who are 33-34 years old.
“It’s important to bring young guys in who can take the Proteas beyond 2019,” Zondi told Saturday Citizen yesterday at SuperSport Park, where Markram produced a man-of-the-match display with innings’ of 119 and 87.
Markram greeted his inclusion in the Test squad with the same calm assurance he shows when batting. “It’s an incredible privilege to be selected. It’s what you dream of as a little boy and I’m extremely excited. I just don’t want to put myself under any unnecessary pressure,” Markram said.
Four players who were involved in the ill-fated Test series in England have been axed, with Markram effectively taking the place of Titans team-mate Heino Kuhn, who had more failures than successes at the top of the order.
JP Duminy retired from Test cricket last weekend, while both Chris Morris and Vernon Philander are nursing injuries, leading to a recall for bowling all-rounder Wayne Parnell.
The selectors are hoping new coach Ottis Gibson can bring out the X-factor in the left-arm swing bowler.
“We haven’t written off Stephen Cook and Heino Kuhn and it’s better to have all these opening options. We also want to be in the position where we can either play six batsmen and two bowling all-rounders, or seven batsmen and one of Andile Phehlukwayo, Wayne Parnell, Philander or Morris,” Zondi said.