Markram to lead SA A against England Lions
PROMISING Titans batsman Aiden Markram has been entrusted with the mammoth responsibility of captaining the South Africa A side in their four-day tour against the England Lions.
The 20-year-old scored 565 runs at an average of 51.36, including two centuries, during the Sunfoil Series.
He also earned a man-of-the-match title, scoring 161 off 123 balls, in the Momentum One Day Cup final in his breakthrough campaign last season.
After he helped the Titans to beat the Warriors by 236 runs in the final last month‚ Proteas ODI captain AB de Villiers and Titans coach Mark Boucher waxed lyrically about him, saying he must be given an opportunity in the national team.
He has taken another step towards Proteas selection with his maiden SA A call-up.
Eye-catching performances against the England Lions may see him push harder for Proteas selection.
“He has done very well on the franchise level and every player who is picked for SA A is good enough to play for South Africa,” Proteas convener of selectors Linda Zondi said.
“For most of these players in the SA A longer-format squad‚ it is a trial and anyone who does well gives us more options.”
“When you look at how well he has done‚ it just gives us that confidence.
“We have given him the opportunity to captain the SA A side and he has never captained even one franchise team. “We have known him from the U19 team. “He is one guy who offers you that leadership quality.”
The SA A four-day side has far more experienced players, like Heino Kuhn‚ Temba Bavuma‚ Dane Piedt‚ Khaya Zondo and Beuran Hendricks, but Zondi said the selection would benefit the Proteas in the long run.
“It is one of those selection decisions that we were not shy to make as a panel and we believe that it will benefit the Proteas set-up in the future.
“Every player who is there in the ODI or longer format in the SA A side is good enough to be picked for the Proteas. – TMG Digital