How 'binning' social media proved a catalyst for polarising Markram's resurgence

Aiden Markram is, in general, seen as a measured and pragmatic man.

It hasn't been surprising then that social media, the medium so prone to vitriol and contributor to the slow death of common sense and perspective, has portrayed the 28-year-old Proteas star as a polarising player.

As a blistering start to his international career gradually started to lose steam - culminating in him being dropped for the Test series against Australia - many cricket "lovers" have argued Markram is coddled, a player granted more opportunities to redeem his indifferent form than others.

Given his relatively relaxed persona, it's far too easy to believe he lacks the ruthless mental fortitude of the players who did become greats.

On the other hand, as the South African game contemplated a lack of depth in batting, Markram has supporters who believe he's simply too gifted not to be backed to the hilt.

Either way, the impression was of a young man caught between two fires, simply because he always stays measured.

And then a video, that would go viral, emerged of Markram's talk to his Sunrisers Eastern Cape teammates after they suffered their third defeat of the SA20 campaign, a tight five-wicket loss to Joburg Super Kings.

"Tonight's pretty simple," he says.

"Fifteen, 20 runs more and this f*****g changeroom is smiling. So we're not diving f*****g deep into what-ifs and buts and all that b******t. But the one thing I wanted to touch on is that it was a f*****g incredible game to be part of. To stand on that field and watch how you guys fought is something you can't teach. It's something you can't encourage guys to do. It comes from within."

That's a pretty emphatic speech for a man - almost like Chelsea's embattled but demure manager Graham Potter -