‘We’re still not at our best’: Aden Markram backs steady growth ahead of key New Zealand clash

NEW DELHI: South Africa captain Aiden Markram feels his team is yet to hit top gear but is confident that steady improvement will bring the desired results as the T20 World Cup unfolds.

Speaking to the media on the eve of their Group D clash against New Zealand, Markram admitted that Black Caps coach Rob Walter, having worked closely with several South African players in the past, knows their game inside out.

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"He'll know all of us pretty well, how each of us operates, what brings out the best in us and what challenges us," Markram said.

"But we're at a stage as a team where we still don't think we're at our best. The focus is on getting closer to our fullest potential. If we keep improving, the end result should take care of itself."

Extras and discipline under scrutiny

The South African skipper conceded that discipline with the ball remains an area of concern, highlighting the 22 extras conceded across their first two matches.

"In this format, 11 extras a game is a lot of runs and it can hurt you. That's been first and foremost in our discussions. Beyond that, it's about letting each bowler use his strengths. You can't have a fixed plan as a unit if it doesn't suit individual skills," he said.

Team balance and slower balls

On the likely team combination for the night game in Ahmedabad, Markram suggested that conditions, particularly dew, could play a key role in deciding the pace-spin balance.

"From a spin point of view at night, it can be less of a threat, especially if dew comes in. We haven't announced the XI yet, but those are the conversations we're having."

Markram also spoke about the increasing value of slower balls in the competition, especially on good batting tracks.

"As a batter, they can be quite challenging, especially if they’re deceptive. You're breaking the pace of the game and asking the batter to swing at different speeds. On good wickets, you need ways to make it tougher for batters, and that's why teams are changing pace more often," he said.

Lessons from Super Over drama

Reflecting on the dramatic double Super Over against Afghanistan, Markram described it as a tense and emotionally exhausting experience that offered valuable lessons under pressure.

"It's quite draining to be fair. It honestly felt like it went on for an hour, hour and a half, even though that probably wasn't the case. But you can't really practice Super Overs, so you have to go through them and experience them as a team.

"We just got over the line, but at least we saw some really good things from our batting point of view.

"You don't actually discuss these things too much, so definitely we've got a bit more clarity now that we've played them back-to-back. If we were to play in another one, I feel we don't have to, but if we were to, we've got a good idea of the guys we can put down."

Markram added that the contest served as a reminder of how crucial small moments are in T20 cricket.

"It wasn't so much a wake-up call, but it certainly felt like one in terms of realising the importance of every single delivery. You can't afford to drift in this format. Each ball, each over, each small passage of play can decide the outcome."

(With PTI Inputs)