Markram and Elgar to open for South Africa in the 1st Test against Bangladesh

South Africa A skipper, Aiden Markram will open the batting for the national team in the first Test against Bangladesh at Potchefstroom. He will walk out to take the guard with Dean Elgar as the selectors decided to drop Heino Kuhn from the team. Markram was a part of the team on the tour of England as a backup for skipper Faf du Plessis but didn’t make his debut.

Kuhn had a string of poor performances on the tour after he made his debut in the first Test but couldn’t manage a single fifty plus score in eight innings. Markram, on the other hand, boasts of a 33-match first-class experience and has scored 2144 runs at 42.03 with five centuries and ten half centuries. He scored two 70s in the recently concluded home series against India A which ended square at 1-1. The 22-year-old from Centurion has been rewarded for his explosive form this season as he has piled on the runs across both List A and FC formats.

Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) National Selection Panel Convener Linda Zondi said that Markram has been rewarded for his consistency having been knocking the door for quite some time now. “Aiden has been knocking on the door for some time now.”

“He gained valuable insight into the Proteas team culture during the tour of England and he has shown maturity beyond his years, having captained South Africa to victory in the under-19 World Cup and as captain of the South Africa A four-day side,” Zondi added.

The selectors also recalled all-rounder Wayne Parnell in the squad while Andile Phelukwayo was retained since Vernon Philander isn’t available due to an injury along with premier pacer Dale Steyn and Chris Morris.

“The inclusion of Andile and Wayne provides the necessary all-rounders to give options as concerns the balance of the starting XI. The selection of some younger players is part of the process to build for the future and at the same time maintain our hard core of experience,” Zondi concluded.

South Africa squad for the 1st Test:

Faf du Plessis (C), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Thenius de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock (wk), Dean Elgar, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Duanne Olivier, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada