There’s a quiet shift happening in the Proteas Test team, and Aiden Markram explains how Coach Shukri Conrad has influenced the new culture in the team.

He’s not the loudest voice in the room. He’s not reinventing cricket. But what he’s doing — and doing well — is creating a space where players can be themselves, and thrive.

“He’s a very simple coach, very clear coach in his messaging,” Aiden told Cricket Fanatics Magazine.

That simplicity is what makes it work. Shukri knows his players. He’s known many of them for years. And instead of overloading them with instructions, he focuses on unlocking something deeper.

“He’s a coach that really tries to unlock the genius state of players. He speaks about that a lot. Allowing the players to try and do it without feeling like they’re always being judged.”

In a game that’s become dominated by pressure and schedules, this approach stands out. It’s not about forcing results. It’s about freeing players to be the best version of themselves.

“He tries to take you away from that and focus on you trying to be the best version of yourself. Really clear, really simple — and he’s done wonders in the Test team for us.”