- Aiden Markram says England were trendsetters with their aggressive style
- Since then, other teams have responded to keep up and imitate England
- South Africa take on England, who have only won one of three World Cup games
Aiden Markram, the South African batsman who began this tournament with the fastest hundred in World Cup history, says his team were inspired to take the aggressive option by England – their opponents in Saturday’s mouth-watering clash in Mumbai.
Markram reached three figures in just 49 balls as the big-hitting South Afrticans racked up 428 for five – another World Cup record – during their opening game against Sri Lanka in Delhi.
And he was in the runs again during an impressive win over Australia in Lucknow, making 56 off 44. The South Africans then stumbled against the Netherlands, but that has only lent extra spice to the game against an England team he regards as the global cricket’s white-ball trendsetters.
‘Yeah, 100 per cent,’ said Markram. ‘They almost started this way of playing, and other teams have got to keep up. If they are going to keep making big scores, you are going to have to find a way to try and get there.
‘I would certainly say that they initiated it, and now you look at world cricket in general – it has followed in that same direction. That 2019 World Cup was massive, seeing how things came to fruition for them, and in the years afterwards to see how everyone else is following speaks volumes about what they did.’
Aiden Markram says South Africa were inspired to take the aggressive option by England
‘I would certainly say that they initiated it, and now you look at world cricket in general – it has followed in that same direction,’ he said
Despite the slip-up against the Dutch, South Africa’s top six have spent the last few months making a name for themselves. Opener and wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock started this tournament with two centuries, while Rassie van der Dussen was one of three centurions against the Sri Lankans.
Heinrich Klaasen, meanwhile, recently smashed 174 off 83 balls as South Africa came from 2-0 down to win a home ODI series against Australia.
‘It’s fantastic,’ said Markram. ‘You look at us as a top six, it’s been pretty consistent for a lengthy period of time, and we all understand each other quite well. There’s not too much of a blue-print that we follow: it’s quite a free-spirited approach, so if a guy is feeling good on the day then he’s encouraged to really force the game on.’
Markram remains the only South African to lift a global trophy, having led their Under-19s to World Cup success in 2014. He also has respect for – and inside knowledge of – Harry Brook and Adil Rashid after teaming up with them for Sunrisers Hyderabad at the IPL.
But there will be no room for sentiment as both teams seek to avoid a second defeat in a row – and, in England’s case, a third defeat out of four.
‘Every game is massive, but even more so on the back of the last two results,’ said Markram. ‘I’ve no doubt they’ll be more motivated to get a win, but so will we. It should bring out some fantastic cricket. Both teams are going to give it absolutely everything.’
Heinrich Klaasen smashed 174 off 83 balls as South Africa came from 2-0 down to win a home ODI series against Australia in September