Aiden Kyle Markram (born 4 October 1994) is a South African cricketer who is the current captain of the South Africa national cricket team in Twenty20 International cricket and former captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League. Markram had captained the South African under-19 cricket team to win the 2014 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.[2][3][4][5] In the 2018 South African Cricket Annual, he was named as one of the five “Cricketers of the Year”.[6][7] Markram was described by former captain and batsman Graeme Smith as a future South Africa captain.[8] He made his international debut for South Africa in September 2017.[9] He is currently the captain of Sunrisers eastern cape of the SA20 league which was formed in 2022, who successfully won the cup in 2023 and 2024.

Aiden Markram
Aiden Markram playing for South Africa against Australia in 2018
Personal information
Full name
Aiden Kyle Markram
Born (1994-10-04) 4 October 1994 (age 30)
Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa
Height6 ft 1[1] in (1.85 m)
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm off break
Role
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 332)28 September 2017 v Bangladesh
Last Test3 January 2024 v India
ODI debut (cap 122)22 October 2017 v Bangladesh
Last ODI19 December 2023 v India
ODI shirt no.4
T20I debut (cap 81)22 March 2019 v Sri Lanka
Last T20I25 August 2024 v West Indies
T20I shirt no.4
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2014–presentNortherns
2016–presentTitans
2018Durham
2018Paarl Rocks
2019Hampshire
2021Punjab Kings
2022-presentSunrisers Hyderabad
2022–presentSunrisers Eastern Cape
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI T20I FC
Matches 41 71 53 94
Runs scored 2,569 2,213 1,319 6,569
Batting average 35.19 36.88 32.17 42.65
100s/50s 7/11 3/11 0/9 19/29
Top score 152 175 70 204*
Balls bowled 435 965 306 1,043
Wickets 3 20 12 7
Bowling average 73.00 45.75 35.33 69.57
5 wickets in innings 0 0 0 0
10 wickets in match 0 0 0 0
Best bowling 2/27 2/18 3/21 2/27
Catches/stumpings 44/– 29/– 36/– 99/–
Medal record
Men's Cricket
Representing  South Africa
ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup
Winner 2014 UAE
ICC T20 World Cup
Runner-up 2024 West Indies & USA
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 30 October 2024

T20 franchise career

edit

Markram made his first class debut for Northerns cricket team against South Western Districts on 9 October 2014.[10] He was included in the Northerns cricket team squad for the 2015 Africa T20 Cup.[11] In 2016, Markram was club professional for Walkden in the Bolton Cricket League.

In May 2017, Markram was named Domestic Newcomer of the Year at Cricket South Africa's annual awards.[12] In August 2017, he was named in Nelson Mandela Bay Stars' squad for the first season of the T20 Global League.[13] However, in October 2017, Cricket South Africa initially postponed the tournament until November 2018, with it being canceled soon after.[14]

In October 2018, Markram was named in Paarl Rocks' squad for the first edition of the Mzansi Super League T20 tournament.[15][16]

In March 2019, Markram signed for Hampshire County Cricket Club as their overseas player for the first part of the season.[17] Later the same month, Markram scored 127 runs in the final of the 2018–19 Momentum One Day Cup, to help Titans win the tournament.[18][19]

In September 2019, Markram was named in the squad for the Paarl Rocks team for the 2019 Mzansi Super League tournament.[20] In April 2021, he was named in Northerns' squad, ahead of the 2021–22 cricket season in South Africa.[21]

On 11 September 2021, Markram was included in the Punjab Kings squad for the second phase of the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL) in the UAE.[22][23] In February 2022, he was bought by the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the auction for the 2022 Indian Premier League tournament.[24]

After successfully leading Sunrisers Eastern Cape to the first SA20 championship, Markram was appointed as the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad for the 2023 season of the Indian Premier League.[25]

International career

edit

Debut years

edit

In June 2017, Markram was named in South Africa's Test squad for their series against England, but did not play.[26] In August 2017, he was named as captain of the South Africa A cricket team for their two four-day matches against India A.[27]

In September 2017, Markram was named in South Africa's Test squad for their series against Bangladesh.[28] He made his Test debut for South Africa against Bangladesh on 28 September 2017.[29]

Record breaking start

edit

After narrowly missing out on a maiden Test century on debut, Markram completed the feat in the second Test against Bangladesh on 6 October 2017 scoring 143 off 186 balls before being bowled by Rubel Hossain.[30]

In October 2017, Markram was added to South Africa's One Day International (ODI) squad ahead of the third match against Bangladesh, replacing Hashim Amla.[31] He made his ODI debut for South Africa against Bangladesh on 22 October 2017, scoring 66 runs as well as taking 2 wickets.[32]

In December 2017, Markram scored his second Test hundred and became the first South Africa player to score two centuries in his first three Tests.[33]

One Day International captaincy

edit

In February 2018, South Africa's captain Faf du Plessis was ruled out of the last five ODIs and the Twenty20 International (T20I) series against India due to a finger injury.[34] Markram was named as South Africa's captain for the remaining ODI fixtures in du Plessis' absence.[35] He, at the age of 23 years 123 days, is the second youngest player to captain South Africa in ODIs after Graeme Smith.[36]

2018–Onwards

edit

On 30 March 2018, Markram scored his career-best score of 152 runs on the first day of the fourth test against Australia.[37]

In June 2018, Markram was named in South Africa's Test squad for a two-Test series in Sri Lanka.[38] Markram averaged just 10 with the bat in this series, his first overseas for South Africa, which showed a vulnerability against spin bowling.[39][40]

In August 2018, Markram was named in South Africa's Twenty20 International (T20I) squad for the one-off match against Sri Lanka, but he did not play in the fixture.[41] In March 2019, he was again named in South Africa's T20I squad, this time for the series against Sri Lanka.[42] He made his T20I debut for South Africa against Sri Lanka on 22 March 2019.[43]

In April 2019, Markram was named in South Africa's squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup.[44][45]

In August 2019, Markram was named in South Africa's squad for the three Test series in India.[46] Markram struggled in the first two matches of this series, bagging a pair in the second Test, before being ruled out of the third due to a self-inflicted wrist injury.[47][48] This series raised further questions about Markram's overseas performances, averaging just 10.50 in four away Tests, all in the subcontinent.[49]

In December 2019, Markram was named in South Africa's squad for the four-Test home series against England.[50] In the first Test, he scored 20 runs in the first innings and 2 in the second as South Africa beat England by 107 runs at Centurion.[51][52] Markram however missed the remainder of the series after fracturing his finger.[53]

In January 2021, Markram was named in South Africa's Test squad for their series against Pakistan.[54] In the first test, Markram scored a patient 74 in a losing effort.[55][56] In the second test, Markram made his first century in more than two and a half years, and his first in Asia.[57] Markram finished as the leading run scorer in the series, averaging 56.75, however South Africa lost the series, their first Test series defeat against Pakistan since 2003.[58][59]

In March 2023, he was appointed as the captain of South Africa cricket team in T20Is, ahead of their home series against the West Indies.[60]

In October 2023 in a match against Sri Lanka, Markram scored the then fastest century in a men's Cricket World Cup, reaching the milestone in 49 deliveries, a record later broken during the tournament by Australian batter Glenn Maxwell. He was dismissed soon after for 106 off 54.

In May 2024, he was named the captain in South Africa’s squad for the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament.[61] He had a quiet tournament with the bat, but became the first ever Proteas captain to lead the team to the final of an ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament. Unfortuantely for him, South Africa lost in the final to India.

Achievements

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "One on One with SA U19 Cricket Captain Aiden Markram". Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  2. ^ "Aiden Markram leading South Africa U-19". ESPNcricinfo. 5 March 2014.
  3. ^ Balachandran, Kanishkaa (28 February 2014). "Composed Markram leading by example". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  4. ^ Selvaraj, Jonathan (2 March 2014). "Failure a stepping stone for Markram". The Indian Express. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  5. ^ "Best-player Markram 'not at his best'". SuperSport. 2 March 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  6. ^ "Markram, Ngidi named among SA Cricket Annual's Top Five". Cricket South Africa. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  7. ^ "Markram, Ngidi among SA Cricket Annual's Cricketers of the Year". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  8. ^ "Markram a future Test captain: Smith". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  9. ^ "Aiden Markram profile and biography, stats, records, averages, photos and videos". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  10. ^ "Sunfoil 3-Day Cup – Pool A: South Western Districts v Northerns at Oudtshoorn, 9–11 October 2014". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  11. ^ Northerns Squad / Players – ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  12. ^ "De Kock dominates South Africa's awards". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  13. ^ "T20 Global League announces final team squads". T20 Global League. Archived from the original on 5 September 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  14. ^ "Cricket South Africa postpones Global T20 league". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  15. ^ "Mzansi Super League - full squad lists". Sport24. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  16. ^ "Mzansi Super League Player Draft: The story so far". Independent Online. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  17. ^ "Aiden Markram: South Africa opener to join Hampshire as overseas player". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  18. ^ "Markram magic leads Titans to MODC title". Cricket South Africa. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  19. ^ "CSA congratulates Titans on MODC triumph". Cricket South Africa. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  20. ^ "MSL 2.0 announces its T20 squads". Cricket South Africa. Archived from the original on 4 September 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  21. ^ "CSA reveals Division One squads for 2021/22". Cricket South Africa. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  22. ^ "Dawid Malan pulls out, Punjab Kings replace him with Aiden Markram". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  23. ^ "Jonny Bairstow, Chris Woakes, Dawid Malan join Jos Buttler in pulling out of IPL". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  24. ^ "IPL 2022 auction: The list of sold and unsold players". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  25. ^ "Sunrisers Hyderabad appoint Aiden Markram as captain ahead of IPL 2023". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  26. ^ "Kuhn, Phehlukwayo in South Africa's Test squad". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  27. ^ "Quick turnaround for Markram with A-team captaincy". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  28. ^ "Markram set for Test debut against Bangladesh". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  29. ^ "1st Test, Bangladesh tour of South Africa at Potchefstroom, Sep 28-Oct 2 2017". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  30. ^ "Markram quickly puts near-miss behind him". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  31. ^ "Amla rested for final ODI; Markram called up". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  32. ^ "3rd ODI, Bangladesh tour of South Africa at East London, Oct 22, 2017,". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  33. ^ "Markram's record-breaking start". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  34. ^ "Finger injury rules Du Plessis out of India ODI and T20 Series". Cricket South Africa. Archived from the original on 3 February 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  35. ^ "Aiden Markram to fill in as South Africa captain". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  36. ^ "Records. One-Day Internationals. Individual records (captains, players, umpires). Youngest captains". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  37. ^ "Markram's fourth ton adds to Australia's woes". Cricbuzz. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  38. ^ "Steyn returns to Test squad for SL tour". ESPNcricinfo. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  39. ^ "Batting records. Test matches". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  40. ^ "Aiden Markram: A Great Start but Challenges Still Remain". News18. 14 January 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  41. ^ "Chance for South Africa to finish Sri Lanka tour on a high". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  42. ^ "Markram, Nortje, Qeshile called up for T20Is against Sri Lanka". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  43. ^ "2nd T20I (N), Sri Lanka tour of South Africa at Centurion, Mar 22, 2019,". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  44. ^ "Hashim Amla in World Cup squad; Reeza Hendricks, Chris Morris miss out". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  45. ^ "Amla edges out Hendricks to make South Africa's World Cup squad". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  46. ^ "South Africa announces squads for India tour; de Kock to lead the side in T20Is". www.icc-cricket.com. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  47. ^ "Aiden Markram, Theunis de Bruyn, Temba Bavuma and South Africa at a crossroads". ESPNcricinfo. 15 October 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  48. ^ "Aiden Markram ruled out of third Test with self-inflicted wrist injury". ESPNcricinfo. 17 October 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  49. ^ "Managing Markram: South Africa must act quickly to arrest opener's slide". ESPNcricinfo. 16 October 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  50. ^ "South Africa v England: Proteas name six uncapped players in squad". BBC Sport. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  51. ^ "Zubayr Hamza strikes a pose before Quinton de Kock lands a more telling blow". ESPNcricinfo. 26 December 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  52. ^ "Recent Match Report - South Africa vs England, ICC World Test Championship, 1st Test". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  53. ^ "Finger fracture puts Aiden Markram out of remainder of England series". ESPNcricinfo. 28 December 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  54. ^ "South Africa announce Test squad for series against Pakistan". Geo.
  55. ^ "1st Test, Karachi, Jan 26 - Jan 30 2021, South Africa tour of Pakistan". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  56. ^ "Yasir Shah, Nauman Ali hand Pakistan advantage after Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen fifties". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  57. ^ "Centurion Markram bemoans South Africa's defeat despite having 'started making progress'". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  58. ^ "South Africa in Pakistan Test Series, 2020/21 Cricket Team Records & Stats". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  59. ^ "Hasan Ali ten-for gives Pakistan first series win over South Africa since 2003". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  60. ^ "Aiden Markram ready to fulfill his destiny". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  61. ^ "South Africa Sqaud for ICC Men's T20I World Cup". ScoreWaves. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  62. ^ "ICC Men's T20I Team of the Year revealed". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
edit