Cameron Steel says it is “extremely exciting” to be given the opportunity to work alongside overseas opening batsman Aiden Markram.
Markram is available for the first four Championship fixtures of the season & could partner Steel at the top of the order.
The South African shone in a highly contentious series against Australia this winter, scoring two hundreds – including a career-best 152 – and averaging 60, while entering the top 10 batsmen in the ICC world rankings by the end of the series.
Steel is relishing the opportunity to learn from his fellow opener & feels that Markram will add a lot to the dressing room.
“He’s a very, very exciting cricketer, he’s done incredibly well in his test career and by all accounts he’s a great bloke and a very good leader,” said Steel
“He’ll be great for the young team that we’ve got. Hopefully he improves the blokes around him and puts in some big performances.”
Way to brighten up the day ?
Welcome to the North East, @AidzMarkram pic.twitter.com/F9WF5uWCSH
— Durham CCC ? (@DurhamCricket) April 13, 2018
Meanwhile, the 22-year-old will look to cement his place after a promising first season in a Durham shirt.
The former Middlesex man scored 899 runs at an average of over 40, becoming Durham’s youngest ever double centurion with his 224 against Leicestershire.
He added: “One of the big things for me last season was to try and win games for the team and I didn’t quite get there a couple of times. I think that could be a big improvement for me this year to put in match winning performances as opposed to just good performances.”
The youngster will get the benefit of working with more international experience as Tom Latham returns to Emirates Riverside in May.
The New Zealander scored 382 runs at an average of 63.67 in four appearances last season.
“We’ve got Tom Latham coming back after [Markram] and the impact that he had on the team as a whole and on me as an individual in moving our games forward was huge.”
Latham’s departure in August sees the arrival of Indian all-rounder Axar Patel, potentially leaving Steel as the senior opening batsman for the last six games of the Championship season depending upon how head coach Jon Lewis decides to line up.
“It’s a lovely show in faith and a big compliment. It puts a little bit of pressure on but it’s also a very exciting opportunity for me and so hopefully I can win some games for the team and keep my place at the top of the order.”