“A couple of games away…”: South Africa coach backs Aiden Markram despite T20I struggles

South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad has thrown his support behind captain Aiden Markram, despite the skipper’s poor run in the recently concluded T20I series against Australia. Conrad believes Markram is just a few games away from hitting top form and delivering big performances.

Markram’s struggles continued as he went 31 T20I innings without a half-century, managing only 31 runs across the three matches against Australia.

The series ended in dramatic fashion in Cairns, where a last-over thriller saw Australia edge past South Africa in the decider. Glenn Maxwell starred with a brilliant unbeaten 62 off 36 balls, guiding his team to victory with just two balls to spare.

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With that win, Australia sealed a 2-1 series triumph. Maxwell was named Player of the Match, while Tim David, who piled up 150 runs in three games, walked away with the Player of the Series award.

“I know it’s a different format, but in the World Test Championship final not so long ago, Aiden showed exactly what he is about. And I’m sure he is a couple of games away from unlocking that state of genius,” Shukri Conrad said as quoted from ESPNcricinfo.

Conrad admitted that South Africa were “one batter short,” but added that if the players showed a bit more self-belief, it could actually turn into a positive for the team.

“If we want to be brave, we have got to select attacks to beat a team like Australia and if I can nudge a batting unit into playing a certain way where we are a batter light and I concede we were a batter light, imagine what they can do when we have got a properly balanced side,” he added.

Australia won the first and third T20Is, while South Africa’s only success came in the second match, where Dewald Brevis brilliant maiden century and a strong bowling display secured a 53-run victory. The two teams will now face off in a three-match ODI series, beginning Tuesday, 19 August, in Cairns.