Aiden is a couple of games away from unlocking that state of genius, says Proteas coach Shukri Conrad

PROTEAS coach Shukri Conrad has backed Aiden Markram to rediscover his form in the upcoming ODI series against Australia.

Markram endured a lean T20I series, which the Aussies won 2-1 off the penultimate ball of the decider in Cairns on Saturday evening. The skipper’s contribution across the three matches was a paltry 31 runs at an average of 10.30.

It would be easy to brush Markram’s poor return by the way side had it been a once-off. But the 30-year-old has been searching for form since before last year’s T20 World Cup when he led the Proteas to a first-ever final.

In fact, his last T20I half-century was at the previous T20 World Cup back in October 2022 against India in Perth. He has walked to crease 31 times since without passing 50.

Markram’s form in the longer white-ball format does not inspire much confidence either. The right-hander has only two half-centuries in his last 16 ODI innings dating back to the 2023 World Cup, averaging just 31.81 during this period. 

But Conrad feels that Markram is not far from his best form, citing the recent World Test Championship final where the vice-captain delivered arguably the most important innings in Proteas’ history when he struck 136 to lead his team to a famous victory at Lord’s.

“I mean, I know it's a different format. But the Test Final not so long ago, Aiden showed exactly what he's about,” Conrad said.

“And I'm sure it's, I mean, a couple of games away from unlocking that state of genius.”

Furthermore, Conrad wanted the team to embrace the Proteas’ style of play regardless of format. 

“The intensity with which you play, I don't think that changes at all,” he said. 

“I just think that sometimes we can be too humble. We don't show off enough to the world enough what we're capable of doing.

“A bit like (Dewald) Brevis. And this has got nothing to do with the way Australia plays. 

“But they've got a blueprint as to how they want to play. There are times when it looks absolutely brilliant and it's box office stuff. And there are times where you can have them in trouble like we had them in the first couple of games. But they stay true to it.

“What does it mean for us?  I think guys like, and especially in the batting front, it's easier on the batting front, guys like (Tristan) Stubbs and (Ryan Rickelton) Ricks and these guys, Aiden himself. There's so much that they can do. But I feel that they've maybe boxed themselves in a little bit too much.

“It's not always going to result in winning. But, yeah, I just want us to show off a bit more.”

The Proteas will face Australia in the first ODI on Tuesday (6:30am start).