South Africa's white-ball captain, Aiden Markram, is eager to capitalise on his recent performance in the third One-Day International against Afghanistan, believing it will serve as a springboard for increased run production throughout the upcoming season.
His unbeaten score of 69 in the match, played in Sharjah, marked Markram's first half-century in white-ball cricket this year, bolstering his confidence as he prepares for the T20 series against Ireland, commencing on Friday at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Despite facing challenges this year, with only 176 runs at an average of 16 over 12 T20 International matches, Markram's best performance was a 46-run innings against the United States during the T20 World Cup, raising concerns about his form given his evident talent.
However, Markram is optimistic that his innings against Afghanistan have set him on a positive trajectory. "It was great to find some runs... I wish it had come earlier when it could have impacted the series result," he remarked. "But every match is an opportunity to represent your country, and I wanted to make the most of it. Now, I hope to carry this form into the series against Ireland and beyond."
As the Proteas gear up to integrate several young talents into the T20 lineup against Ireland, Markram acknowledges the added responsibility on senior players to perform amid these changes. The team recently experimented with new faces in their T20 series against the Windies, which ended in a disappointing 3-0 defeat, and they also succumbed 2-1 to Afghanistan in the ODI series.
Despite these setbacks, Markram emphasises the importance of leading by example rather than feeling pressured by the influx of newcomers. "We don't feel extra pressure; we're all fiercely competitive as South Africans," he stated. "Losing is tough, and when things go awry, you naturally reflect on how you could have influenced the game's outcome. That said, my focus is on stepping up and guiding our younger players forward."
South Africa T20I squad against Ireland: Aiden Markram (captain, Titans), Ottneil Baartman (Dolphins), Matthew Breetzke (Warriors), Nandre Burger (Western Province), Bjorn Fortuin (Lions), Reeza Hendricks (Lions), Patrick Kruger (Warriors), Wiaan Mulder (Lions), Lungi Ngidi (Titans), Nqaba Peter (Lions), Ryan Rickelton (Lions), Andile Simelane (Dolphins), Jason Smith (Dolphins), Tristan Stubbs (Warriors) and Lizaad Williams (Titans).