Aiden Markram also has the unique experience of being the only other captain to lead South Africa in an ICC event final this millennium (Hansie Cronje led them in the 1998 Wills International Cup final) – and he has done it twice. Aiden Markram was in charge when the South Africa U-19 won the age-group World Cup in 2014 and last year, when the senior side got to the final of the T20 World Cup in Barbados.
South Africa has been a perennial underachiever when it comes to the matters of ICC trophy. While they have had their moments in the knockouts, more often than not, they have ended up on the wrong side of things. However, they have another opportunity in the form of the World Test Championship starting on June 11 to rewrite the narrative, and Aiden Markram said the team made sure they have “buried” the losses from the past nicely.
The latter was the apex of a few weeks of intensity as South Africa reeled off eight consecutive wins to reach the final. In Tests, they’ve now won seven in a row.
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South Africa batsman Aiden Markram insists there will be no mental scarring from his side’s previous failures when they face holders Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s. The Proteas have suffered several agonising near-misses in major tournaments, including last year’s T20 World Cup final in Barbados.
They needed just 30 more runs to win, with 30 balls and six wickets remaining, yet somehow contrived to lose in devastating fashion against India. But Aiden Markram, South Africa’s captain in that match and one of five survivors from the game in the WTC final squad, is confident there will be no hangover for a red-ball side led by Temba Bavuma
South African batsman Aiden Markram exudes confidence that his team will not be mentally hampered by past failures when they face Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s.
Aiden Markram, who captained South Africa in that match and is one of five players from that game featuring in the WTC final squad, believes the team has moved on. Under Temba Bavuma’s leadership, they are focused on the present.
“This team is different,” Aiden Markram said at Lord’s on Sunday.
“Those of us who have experienced past disappointments have dealt with it, discussed it, and learned from it. Now, it’s about the excitement of another opportunity to succeed.”
As an opener, Aiden Markram faces the challenge of neutralising Australia’s potent bowling attack in the final starting on Wednesday. However, South Africa also possesses a formidable pace attack spearheaded by Kagiso Rabada.
“As an opener, my role is to give the team a strong start,” Aiden Markram stated.
“Preparing against our world-class bowlers can be tough, but it helps us as batters.”
South Africa’s path to the final involved winning seven consecutive Tests, predominantly in short series. South Africa’s schedule of two-Test series throughout the World Test Championship has an unintended benefit in preparing them for getting off the starting blocks quickly, which could come in handy in a one-off final. Or at least, that’s the line Aiden Markram came up with, and is sticking to, three days out from the biggest Tests of his and his team-mate’s careers.
“A lot of our series have been two-game series, so in order to win, you can’t start slow. That’s helped us along the way,” Aiden Markram said after South Africa’s first training session at Lord’s.
“We know the importance of starting well, trying to get ahead of the game early and how important each session is going to be. There’s no second dip at it. We have to make sure we hit the ground running and are nice and sharp come day one.”
The 30-year-old Aiden Markram, who has played 45 Tests, is relishing the opportunity to play at Lord’s.
“Playing a Test match at Lord’s is special, and having it as a final is the cherry on top,” he said.
South Africa have been in the mix across formats at ICC events in recent years, reaching the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Final last year, falling at the final hurdle to India. The side also reached the semi-final stage at both the 2023 Cricket World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy, and come into the Lord’s finale having topped the table.
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