Markram says SA ready for spin-heavy start to WTC defence in Pakistan

Stand-in captain Aiden Markram said South Africa are ready for a spin-heavy start to their defence of the World Test Championship as they prepare to begin a two-match Test series in Pakistan on Sunday. The Proteas flew to Pakistan after a short preparation camp at the Cricket South Africa High Performance Centre in Pretoria, with the first Test in Lahore and the second scheduled to begin on October 20 in Rawalpindi.

Markram, deputising for regular captain Temba Bavuma who has been ruled out of the tour with a calf strain, acknowledged that winning last cycle’s WTC places extra scrutiny on his side. "I suppose you create a bit of a target on your back if you've won the WTC, and if that's the case, it's fair," he said, adding that the team must keep improving across different conditions to reach the final again. South Africa also face two Tests in India in November as part of the new WTC cycle.

Pakistan pitches are widely expected to favour spin, and the Proteas tailored their preparation accordingly. At the Pretoria centre the squad practised on specially prepared, highly turning nets to emulate subcontinental surfaces, and used sessions intended to replicate the lower, skiddy...