Proteas hero Aiden Markram felt ‘all of the emotions at once’ in career-defining Lord’s final century

WHEN Aiden Markram walked in to open the batting alongside Dean Elgar in Potchefstroom almost a decade ago, there had been a lot said about his potential, with many dubbing him the next Graeme Smith.

After all, Markram had led the South African Under-19s to World Cup glory a few years prior, and sent the country into a state of happiness.

On that day in Potchefstroom, Markram’s 97 on debut further gave the country hope that it had found its next run machine, one that could potentially reach the heights that Smith achieved in his career.

For the next couple of years, he would prove himself against India and Australia at home, bringing up big centuries as he solidified his place as a Test-match opener.

However, a couple of years later, international bowlers finally cracked his code and learned his weakness, and the right-hander struggled.

Eventually, in an attempt to try and keep such a talented player in the team, he was moved down the order, an experiment that also failed in New Zealand and England as the batter battled to make runs.

Now, Markram sits with almost 3,000 Test runs at an average of 36, with eight hundreds, a set of numbers many would have never associated with him, given the hype and expectations that were placed on him.

However, in the last two seasons, after being dropped a little over two years ago, he has blasted two centuries, including one in the recently concluded World Test Championship final at Lord’s against a high-octane Australian pace attack.

That knock is dubbed as one of the best innings in history because of the nature of the Test match, in that it was dominated by the bowlers who took 28 wickets in the opening two days in London.

Markram scored that 136 (off 207 balls, 14x4) in the second innings following a duck in the first.

“A pair in the final... I don’t think I would have slept very well,” he told the media, reflecting on the Test at Lord’s.

“The ultimate goal in the second innings was just to get the first run, and then I said from there, I’ll sort of tackle the rest and take the rest on.

“So, it was obviously a thought in my mind.

“I think it’s a thought in most batter’s minds. But that was the initial thing, and then from there, it’s just about staying in the game.

“I’ve said it, that conditions did get better for batting. The sun was out, which makes a big difference in the UK.

“Once we got through that initial sting of the new ball, it felt like we could actually occupy the crease, and we could transfer some pressure back onto them.”

By the end of the third day, Markram had reached his century and barely celebrated as South Africa had 69 runs to get to win the match on day four.

However, the 30-year-old said that he was emotional after stumps on day three as it had sunk in that he had scored a massive century, and was on the brink of helping the Proteas to the world title.

Moreover, the opening batter highlighted his disappointment in not finishing unbeaten, as he was dismissed on a 207-ball 136.

“I think on day three, I was emotional about how things had worked out once I got back into the changing-room at stumps,” said Markram.

“But, I’m trying to get into it where you actually end up not out. I keep getting close and then giving it away.

“Even if the game is done or not, that’s what the best players do, so that’s sort of what you strive to try to do.

“So I was definitely disappointed, knackered, tired, and bloody happy... all of the emotions at once.

“You reflect back and you go, it was something really cool and special to be out there.

“But I think me being me, you’re always trying to strive for something better, and get angry at yourself for no reason.”