Proteas Test coach Conrad backs Markram to find top form against Sri Lanka
Skukri Conrad is confident Aiden Markram will give a good account of himself on home soil, where he won't have the added pressure of captaining the team, as he did in Temba Bavuma's absence in Bangladesh.
South Africa's Aiden Markram celebrates after scoring a century (100 runs) during the second day of the second cricket Test match between South Africa and India at Newlands stadium in Cape Town on 4 January 2024. Picture: Rodger Bosch/AFP
JOHANNESBURG - Proteas Test coach Shukri Conrad is backing top order batter Aiden Markram to regain his best form in the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka.
Markram is under pressure in the T20 side after the 3-1 series loss to India last week, where he only contributed 48 runs in the four matches.
Conrad said that he had no doubt about Markram or his ability.
"I don't know what the problem is and why there's even a conversation around Aiden and Test cricket. He's the best opening batter in the country. He'll continue to play and be a leader in our Test side. He's a hell of a player," Conrad said.
Markram showed glimpses of his best once again on the recent tour to Bangladesh, but as he's often criticised, he didn’t make the most of his starts and only managed 59 runs in his three innings on the subcontinent.
Conrad is confident Markram will give a good account of himself on home soil, where he won't have the added pressure of captaining the team, as he did in Temba Bavuma's absence in Bangladesh.
"His home performances have obviously been a lot better than his away performances. So, we are looking for a couple of big performances from him and I am very confident that he will deliver," Conrad said of Markram.
The Proteas' 14-man squad will gather in Pretoria for an intensive two-day camp to prepare for the series against Sri Lanka. Bavuma is back to lead the side after overcoming an elbow injury.
The first Test of the series is in Durban from 27 November and the second match will be in Gqeberha from 5 December.
Proteas Test squad against Sri Lanka
Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Kyle Verreynne