Elgar on struggling Markram: ‘Maybe he needs to just stop trying so hard’

After first being put in to bat on a bowler-friendly pitch in Christchurch on Thursday, the Proteas crumbled to 95 all out, their lowest total in the first innings of a Test since 1932, with Markram contributing 15 runs.

AS IT HAPPENED | NEW ZEALAND V SOUTH AFRICA: 1ST TEST – DAY 3

It only got worse from there as New Zealand piled on the runs, finishing on 482, before once again bundling out the Proteas for a paltry 111 to win by an innings and 276 runs in the first Test.

Markram managed just two runs in the second innings, which comes after an entirely forgettable Test series against India as he recorded woeful scores of 13, 1, 7, 31, 8 and 16.

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The 27-year-old, who has talent in abundance, but appears to be struggling to convert that into meaningful scores at international level, has averaged just over 25 in his last 20 Tests.

Markram is likely to be dropped for the second Test

It’s likely that Markram will be omitted for the second Test against New Zealand, with Ryan Rickelton expected to come into the team purely as a batsman.

After the first Test, Dean Elgar sought to provide some insight into Markram’s struggles.

“He has been struggling, no doubt, and I’m sure that conversation will come up with the selectors,” said Elgar.

“From my point of view, maybe it’s the mental game that he’s fighting a little bit too much. We know he’s a quality player, and he is only one innings away from turning a lot of things around.

“The conversation around his position has been in the media, and I guess the selectors will have to have that conversation with him.

“Maybe he needs to just stop trying so hard, because naturally, he’s a gifted player and I think he’s just one innings away from turning things around.”

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The second Test will take place at the same venue from 25 February.