Proteas batsman Aiden Markram believes he should come in a glass casing that reads: “Break in case of an emergency”.
At least that’s when it comes to bowling at the T20 World Cup in the UAE.
But the top-order batsman might just be playing down his skills with ball in hand after not only impressing with the bat in the recent 3-0 series whitewash against Sri Lanka, but also taking 3/21 and 1/4 in the second and third matches as a part-time spin bowler.
Asked if his role in the T20 squad has evolved into a full-blown allrounder, Markram says: “I wouldn’t say I’m an allrounder, I’ll definitely keep working on the bowling side of things.
“So if on the day there is a role for me to play with the ball, I will try my best to be as ready for that as I can be.
“It will come down to the day and it will come down to selection as well.
“In T20 cricket, the best bowlers in the world can travel the distance.
“And then you need guys that can bowl the odd over here and there to make up for that bowler, so that would probably be my role I would assume.
“In the next few days we will chat about that for specifically the World Cup.
“I would definitely not say the full allrounder role.”
Markram and his teammates warm up against Afghanistan and Pakistan next week before facing Australia in their tournament opener on October 23.