South African batsman Aiden Markram asserts that there will be no psychological damage from his team’s past failures as they take on holders Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s.
Past Heartbreaks Won’t Haunt the Proteas
There have been a number of agonising near-misses in big tournaments for the Proteas, the latest coming in last year’s T20 World Cup final in Barbados. They required only 30 more runs to victory with 30 balls and six wickets still in hand, but somehow managed to lose in horrific fashion against India.
But Markram, South Africa’s captain on that day and one of five survivors from the match in the WTC final side, is adamant there will be no carryover hangover for a red-ball team captained by Temba Bavuma. Markram, as an opener, will have the challenging job of attempting to soften a strong Australia bowling attack in an eagerly-anticipated final beginning on Wednesday.
“We’ve Buried It Nicely,” Says Aiden Markram
“This team is a bit different,” Markram told reporters at Lord’s on Sunday.
“The few of us that have been a part of previous events that didn’t go our way have dealt with it, have obviously chatted to each other and made sure we’ve buried it nicely and taken some good lessons from it.
“But besides from that now, it’s more about the excitement of having another opportunity to actually do the job. So that’s pretty much where the mind is at the moment.”
South Africa’s Bowling Attack Ready to Compete
South Africa, however, do possess a good pace attack of their own, led by Kagiso Rabada, However South Africa won seven consecutive Tests to qualify for the final, with many of those series being short.
“When you’re opening the batting, obviously your responsibility is to get the team off to a good start and get us ahead of the game. So that’s the challenge, that’s what excites us,” Markram said.
“But when you’re preparing against your bowlers, who are world-class, it can only help you as a batter, as uncomfortable as it can be at times.”
Urgency Key in Short Series Format
The 45-Test veteran Markram, aged 30, is enjoying the opportunity to create history on the revered surface at Lord’s.
South Africa won seven Tests in a row to qualify for the final, a run that featured several short series.
“A lot of our series have been two-game series. So in order to win that series, you can’t start slow,” Markram said.
“There’s no second dip at it, so we’re going to have to make sure we hit the ground running and are nice and sharp come day one.”
Lord’s Final a “Cherry on Top” for Aiden Markram
The 30-year-old Markram, a veteran of 45 Tests, is relishing the chance to make history on the hallowed turf at Lord’s.
“To play in a Test match here is really special and then obviously for it to be a final is probably the cherry on top,” he said.
Markram, asked what made Lord’s so memorable, replied: “Probably just the history…You know how many of the greats of the game have played here.
“For us to have that opportunity to play on the same field and share that changing room that they once sat in is quite a cool thought.”
