Proteas captain Dean Elgar says Aiden Markram needs to perform after ’tough conversations’

Johannesburg - There will be changes to the South African team for the second Test against New Zealand that begins at midnight on Thursday, with the batting unit a central focus for the national selectors.

Skipper Dean Elgar mentioned on Thursday afternoon (NZ time) that a final decision would be made after the Proteas’ practice session in the afternoon. Aiden Markram’s position is most in the firing line. Elgar didn’t waver from his post-match comments after the first Test in which stated that Markram, who is averaging 9.7 runs an innings in his last five Tests, was struggling mentally. “His position is vulnerable,” Elgar stated on Thursday.

Elgar has held numerous talks with Markram about his lack of output, the fact that the team desperately needs him to perform better with the bat and what he can do to improve, but at some point all that talk needs to be backed up with action.

“I don’t have to speak to him anymore. I’ve had a lot of tough conversations with him. He just needs to score runs for us. I know the technique to use with him, the conversations have been had, I need him to return the favour as well.”

”He is in a very important position, we need guys firing, you can’t carry guys,” the Proteas captain added.

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Markram was shifted down to no.3 in the order to allow Sarel Erwee to make his debut in his accustomed position as opener, but the change in position didn’t create a change in fortune for the elegant right hander, who made just 15 and 2 in the first Test.

Markram’s last half-century came in the first Test against West Indies last year and his highest score since then is 31, made in the second innings of