The first time I watched Markram, he was scoring 97 on his Test debut against Bangladesh. Of course he'd been touted to open the innings for South Africa ever since he led his country's under 19 team to the World Cup trophy, and probably even before then.
His introduction into Test cricket you would have to say was well planned; a couple of Tests at home to Bangladesh, then a day-nighter with Zimbabwe. With all due respect to both sides it was a gentle start but runs still had to be scored to get the confidence into his game and earn the respect of his teammates and demonstrate what he can do, perhaps for years to come.
With scores of 97,15 and 143 against Bangladesh and 125 in his only innings against Zimbabwe, he certainly gained the momentum he would have wanted heading into his first serious test against a top nation.
He stands very tall and still at the crease with no sign of any noticeable trigger movements. He positions himself across his stumps to give him a firm sense of where his off stump is and entices the bowlers to go straight so he can work them through mid-wicket; an area where he looks very strong. He has an imposing frame and hits well down the ground; to be fair he hits well in most areas off either front or back foot and does all this with the calmest of demeanours.
At Cape Town in the first Test he was bamboozled by the clever Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who jagged one back into Markram (who could barely get his bat down in time) and was trapped plumb in front. In the second innings Markram gave it away after serenely making his way to 34.
Today, however, Markram was in control from the outset. We saw the full range; a solid defence the basis for his more expansive strokes, savage on the pull, elegant on the drive and his flicks through straight mid-wicket are swiftly becoming his signature stroke. The biggest surprise today came when he nicked India's main threat, Ravi Ashwin, into the hands of Parthiv Patel for 94 when another century seemed there for the taking.
He does seem to have a tendency at times for the bat to come down from around second slip on occasions, meaning that if it is straight it will play into his hands and his favoured area with the natural pathway of the bat going in a straight line through mid-wicket; any shape away and Markram will at times play across the ball with the bat having to go in to out.
There was no sign of any technical deficiencies today, the bat coming down nice and straight and the platform for a 400+ score for South Africa was laid. It wasn't to be. South Africa are prone to more than the odd middle order collapse and Quinton de Kock has now failed to pass 50 in his last 11 Test innings, and with Vernon Philander currently batting at seven, South Africa are failing to capitalise on some decent positions.
Philander is a special cricketer with the ball in his hand and something on offer in the pitch. With the bat he looks a spot too high at seven and South Africa seem a touch exposed and a batsman light. The composition of the this team does mean they have a very strong bowling unit but without a genuine all-rounder they can't have it both ways.
India may well have shaded the day today but Aiden Markram continued his rapid rise in the game and will rightly share the headlines.
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