Proteas continue search for player combinations, says skipper Aiden Markram

The search for the right player combinations and pairings for next year’s T20 World Cup continues for the Proteas as they take on England in three T20Is this week.

Since coach Shukri Conrad took over the white ball teams, the side has lost five out of eight matches, including losing a Tri-Series in Zimbabwe before going on to lose 2-1 against Australia Down Under.

Conrad has made several changes since those two tours, dropping spinners George Linde and Nqaba Peter, and batter Rassie van der Dussen, while Keshav Maharaj, Lizaad Williams and Donovan Ferreira have all been called back to the squad for the England series.

With the first of three T20Is set to get underway at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on Wednesday, Markram emphasised that the team continues to build towards making yet another World Cup final in India next year.

“That's what the goal is (making the final), trying to repeat that and take it a step further, of course, so that's sort of the long-term plan,” Markram told the media on Tuesday

“Having a look at the personnel that we have in and around our group, who we feel can contribute to us lifting a trophy and getting those smaller combinations and pairings right.

“So, naturally you come here and you want to win, I'm by no means saying that we're not here to win, but obviously with a bigger picture in mind being that the World Cup is in a few months' time, we are looking at some exciting guys that are new and younger in the team and seeing how best we can put an 11 together.”

While the 30-year-old was addressing the United Kingdom media ahead of the T20I series on Tuesday, the six SA20 franchises were bidding to secure his signature for the fourth edition of the tournament during the SA20 Auction in Johannesburg. 

As the two-time winning captain for the Sunrisers Eastern Cape, the six teams brought out the big cheques for the top-order batter, who ended up walking away with a record-breaking R14 million.

The stylish batter told the media that, as players, all they can do is focus on the upcoming T20I series, as they have no control over the auction.

“Us as players have absolutely no say in that, and however the cards fall is how it's going to be,” Markram said.

“We'll get through our training session, and I'm sure post-training, there will be some news about guys moving to new teams or staying in teams, and you can allow it to be what it is today, but understand what the job at hand is this week.”

Senior player David Miller has been ruled out of the series, having sustained a right hamstring injury during the final week of The Hundred.

The first T20I against England is set to get underway at 7.30pm SAST.