World Cup: Aiden Markram’s rollercoaster journey from a deflated young man to South Africa’s mainstay

Pierre de Bruyn remembers the flat response he had for Markram: “No. You can’t make that decision. You just can’t.”

A former first-class cricketer himself, de Bruyn would offer Markram an alternative. To come with him to the University of Pretoria and join the local cricket academy where he coached. The intervention seems to have worked wonders for the Proteas number four at the ongoing ODI World Cup. Barring the off night against the Netherlands that saw the entire batting lineup crumble, Markram has helped South Africa resurface as one of the title contenders. He scored the fastest hundred in tournament history against Sri Lanka followed by a match-winning fifty against five-time champions Australia.

For the swashbuckling batter, dealing with expectations are nothing new.

Soon after he was convinced to not turn his back on cricket, Markram became the first – and only – South Africa captain to hold aloft a World Cup trophy – 2014 U19 edition. Less than four years later, he was captaining the senior side in a home ODI series against India. It’s gig that de Bruyn believes took Markram four steps back on his journey as he was only starting to establish himself.

As did South Africa, losing 5-1. “I’ll never forget the discussion with him after, over a beer. He said that innings in Port Elizabeth when he got out and while he was walking back he didn’t remember how he got out. That was how mentally tired he was,” de Bruyn added.

From Cricket South Africa’s point of view though, it wasn’t a blindfold pitch. Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers remained the only remnants of a golden generation. There was an urge to cling to the exciting future. Full-time skipper Faf du Plessis being injured presented an opportunity to test Markram. The U19 triumph hype was backed by the junior side coach Ray Jennings, who defined Markram as a ‘likeable politician’ in the dressing room. His initiation to the senior team saw him lead the scoring charts in the fiercely-contested sandpaper gate Test series. Captaining the national team at the age of 23? There were comparisons made with one Graeme Smith. The outcome was a nightmare.

The frustrations piled on a year later as Markram fractured his wrist, punching a solid object in the dressing room following his twin ducks during the tour of India. “It was a buildup of frustration. Of insecurity. Of not knowing where he stands. He wanted to do well so desperately and it didn’t work out then,” says his mentor before adding, “It was a good lesson for him. He was very embarrassed and disappointed in that reaction but is much more mature about it now.”

Forging ODI identity

De Bruyn terms this World Cup as Markram’s biggest test so far as it’s a format he’s wrestled with.

Markram finally seems to have forged his identity as a number four batter for South Africa. Consistency had been an issue – up until 2023, Markram hadn’t registered back-to-back fifty-plus scores in the format. His last six ODI scores include two centuries, a 93, and another fifty. Pacing the innings was another argument stacked against him.

Having looked at his knock against Australia, de Bruyn believes one can cross that off as well. “When he got his fifty, he wasn’t as fluent (in the start). He wasn’t in sharp positions but he managed to get through that. In the past, he didn’t reset as quickly to get through that phase. That 100 he got (vs Sri Lanka), it was a fluent start. There was rhythm in his batting but the next day, it wasn’t the case. That was pleasing for me.”

Markram flicking the switch has reflected in South Africa’s run rate in the middle overs passage (11-40) this year. With the likes of Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller accompanying him in the middle order, the Proteas have a better scoring rate (7.28) during that phase of the game than any other team at this World Cup.

De Bruyn believes it’s a big reason why the sentiment back home is transitioning from a Murphy’s Law outlook towards the national team to the ever-so-dangerous territory of hope.

“The public is very harsh when it comes to our cricket teams and how they operate at the World Cup. We’ve had teams in the past with great players like de Villiers, Amla, Kallis, Smith, and they couldn’t win it. Now they look at this team and say, ‘whatever happens, happens’. That will change after the way we’ve started and as we move closer to the semis,” he says.

His parting thoughts have a sound of satisfaction. “People are going to look at Aiden to continue building the innings in the middle order. Other players may feel the pinch, but Aiden? No. He doesn’t get too fazed about that now.”