Titans youngster Markram entrusted with responsibility of captaining the SA A side

20 April 2017 - 13:06 By Mahlatse Mphahlele
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Aiden Markram of the Titans celebrates his 100 runs during the Momentum One Day Cup final match between Multiply Titans and Warriors at SuperSport Park on March 31, 2017 in Pretoria, South Africa.
Aiden Markram of the Titans celebrates his 100 runs during the Momentum One Day Cup final match between Multiply Titans and Warriors at SuperSport Park on March 31, 2017 in Pretoria, South Africa.
Image: Lee Warren/Gallo Images

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 that included two centuries during the Sunfoil Series.

He also earned a man-of-the match of 161 off 123 balls in the Momentum One Day Cup final in his breakthrough campaign last season.

After helping the Titans to beat the Warriors by 236 runs in the Momentum One Day 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.

“The numbers are there to back him up and the selectors must find a place for him in the national team‚” said De Villiers.

  • Jennings the genius who told Markram to openWho do South Africans have to thank for the happy fact that Aiden Markram has rocketed up the list of viable opening options? 

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.

“If you look at him‚ 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.

"For most of these players that are in the SA A longer format squad‚ it is a trial for them and anyone who does well gives us more options‚” said Proteas convener of selectors Linda Zondi.

  • Domingo selects ODI captain De Villiers despite recurring back injuryProteas selectors and coach Russell Domingo have picked ODI captain AB de Villiers despite a recurring back injury that is threatening to rule him out of the three-match tour to the UK next month and the Champions Trophy in June. 

“When you look at how well he (Markram) 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 Under-19 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 their selection will benefit the Proteas in the long run.

  • Domingo quite keen to hang on to his Proteas coaching jobRussell Domingo may not have said it in as many words‚ but he still seems keen on continuing in his current role as Proteas coach. 

“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/TMG Sport

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