Aiden Markram says that the Proteas are prepared for the difficult conditions in India and that the mood is positive in the camp.

The Proteas’ Test Championship is about to kick off. Their first opponent is the No 1-ranked Test side in their home conditions. 

With the retirement to some key players and the major changes in the staff, it’s going to be a tough series for in multiple aspects. 

There will particularly a lot of pressure on the Proteas batsmen, who have struggled in subcontinent conditions. But the spotlight will be extra bright on the players who attended the spin camp as well as those who played in the South Africa A series. 

Particularly Markram who has become a key player for the Proteas at the top of the order. 

“It’s nice to be back in the camp, there’s a lot of new faces and exciting times that lay ahead with the change in staff and quite a few players as well,” said Markram. 

“It’s an exciting time. There’s a lot of new and refreshing energy in the camp, and the guys look to be in good spirit.”

The Proteas’ last series in India came in 2015/16 and it was a total domination from the home side who won three and drew one in a four-match series.

“I remember watching that series a few years ago. It looked incredibly difficult and I’m sure there’s a bit of baggage that certain players on that tour might still be carrying or have to leave behind, and that’s completely fine,” said Markram.   

“I think it’s never an easy tour coming to anywhere in the subcontinent let alone India, so it’s full of challenges but if we can conquer this challenges it will be really rewarding. 

“So the guys are positive and upbeat. We are maintaining a very good and strong language in the changing room, and at the end of the day we are not goin to hop on about conditions, we are here now and pretty much know what to expect and it’s about getting the job done.”

Markram had a good A tour scoring 161 in the final unofficial Test and is looking to take that momentum into the series. But despite that he is expecting the conditions to be different in the Test series. 

“From a personal perspective it was nice to spend some time out in the middle,” said Markram. 

“I think the wickets will be slightly different to the pitches we got in the A series, but like I said nice to spend time out there and for the fielders it was nice to be on our feet for a long period of time. 

“It was also nice for the bowlers to bowl plenty of spells in these hot conditions, so we took a lot from the A Side games and like I said we ready for the Test marches.

“It was nice to get a few runs, but like I mentioned, by no means will the wickets play the same way as they did in the A Side game,” he added. 

“But there’s always a couple of positives of spending time at the crease and I’m trying to to nitpick at those positives, and take as much as I can from those knocks. 

“The preparation going into this Test series is going to be massive, so each little bit that you can take into the Test series will help.”

The first Test starts on 3 October in Visakhapatnam.