Aiden Markram

Opposition attacks hated Aiden Markram's patience, because it came wrapped in crisp timing and a willingness to grind. He could blunt the new ball with defensive solidity, then accelerate with cuts and pulls that flowed off the bat. At his best, he made batting look simple, pressing forward with high elbows and letting the ball come to him.

Markram first made waves as South Africa's Under-19 captain in 2014, leading them to a World Cup title. He announced himself in Test cricket in 2017 with 97 on debut against Bangladesh, followed quickly by his first centuries. His early Test career promised more than it delivered, but his technique against pace and spin kept him in the mix, and he developed into a handy off-spinner who breaks partnerships when the situation demands.

White-ball cricket transformed his standing. At the 2023 ODI World Cup he blasted a hundred off 49 balls against Sri Lanka, then the fastest in the tournament's history. As captain of Sunrisers Eastern Cape he lifted the first two SA20 titles, and as South Africa's T20I captain he took the side to the 2024 T20 World Cup final, their first in a global event.

His finest hour came at Lord's in June 2025, when his second-innings 136 carried South Africa to victory over Australia in the World Test Championship final, the country's first major ICC title in decades. Adaptable across formats and a natural leader, Markram remains central to South Africa's plans everywhere.