Aiden Markram

Aiden Markram of South Africa and Mark Boucher coach of the Proteas during the South African Proteas squad training and Press conference at Super Sport Park in Centurion on 24 December 2019.
Photo © Christiaan Kotze/BackpagePix

Aiden Markram grateful to be back in Proteas’ ODI squad

Aiden Markram says he is grateful to be part of the Proteas’ white-ball squad and has a point to prove in the ODI series against Pakistan.

Aiden Markram

Aiden Markram of South Africa and Mark Boucher coach of the Proteas during the South African Proteas squad training and Press conference at Super Sport Park in Centurion on 24 December 2019.
Photo © Christiaan Kotze/BackpagePix

Aiden Markram says he is grateful to be part of the Proteas’ white-ball squad and definitely has a point to prove in the upcoming ODI series against Pakistan.

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Aiden Markram last played in colour-clothing for the Proteas at the 2019 Cricket World Cup in England and, like the team, did not have a great tournament.

The 26-year-old only scored 140 runs in six innings at the global showpiece while his overall record with the bat in 50-over international cricket is not great either.

The right-handed batsman has scored 643 runs at 27.95 in his 24 ODI innings and has only two half-centuries to his credit.

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Markram’s selection for the three-match series against Pakistan owes much to his form in red-ball cricket so far this season, having made six hundreds – five for the Titans and one for the Proteas in Test cricket.

Asked if he was surprised by his selection, Aiden Markram told reporters, “I wasn’t expecting it at all. I understand that my white-ball game for the Proteas hasn’t been where I would like it to be.

“I’m grateful to be here. I’m glad that the selectors and the coaches still see me in the white-ball plans. It’s a step back in the right direction.”

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Markram will also play under a new captain in the national side after Temba Bavuma was installed as the Proteas’ new skipper in the shorter formats.

“It’s been amazing to see Temba operate so far this week,” Aiden Markram said.

“The amount of respect that guys have for him in this environment is on another level.

“I think it makes leading, from his side, a lot easier because of that.”

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