SA v IND: Aiden Markram hopes to make the home advantage count

South African opening batsmen, Aiden Markram is brimming with confidence ahead of the second Test match of the ongoing test series between South Africa and India after an exciting win in the first test at Newlands, Capetown. However, the Titans batsman personally didn’t have a great outing with the bat by registering scores of 5 and 34 in the respective innings of the first Test. He looked impressive with the bat in the second innings but fell to a poor shot in trying to work the ball towards the leg side but barely managing a top edge to the fielder at point.

Hope to make the home support count

Markram is certain to make the home advantage count for him in the second test and believes that a usually batting assisting wicket at Centurion can come in handy for him. “I am incredibly excited because this is a ground where I grew up at and watched lots of cricket. It is going to be an exciting week for me which is something that I am really looking forward to,” the opener mentioned to Times Live.

Aware of the Indian Challenge

The 23- year old is wary of the quality that his opposition possesses and expects a certain challenge in the matches to follow. The opener is in full support of the need for better application on the pitch and giving some time in the middle is the key to success. With not much time between test matches, “For both sides‚ it is more about making sure that we keep things nice and fresh,” he added.

“We do not have many days to prepare for the second match but I still don’t think there is a lot to change going into Saturday‚” Markram said.

When asked about the preparations before going into the second Test match, the opener was quick to mention about doing the processes right and not getting buoyed by the win and replicating the performance again to gain an unassailable lead. “We are preparing like we did last week in Cape Town because it may be along those lines,” he concluded.