Markram looking to avoid away slump

Rising South African star Aiden Markram is determined to continue the bright start to his Test career away from the comforts at home.

Having debuted last September, Markram became the second-fastest South African to reach 1000 Test runs and impressed in Tests against Bangladesh, India and Australia over the home summer.

But the opener is conscious that the greats of the game are remembered for their ability to flourish abroad as much as their feats on home soil.

"It's really important to me," Markram said ahead of his first Tests away from home, against Sri Lanka later this month.

"You don't want to be labelled as a guy who only does well in home conditions.

"It's obviously going to be very different. Any subcontinent conditions are going to pose a completely different challenge to South African conditions and it’s something I’m really looking forward to."

Since re-admission, only five South African batsmen (minimum 1000 runs) have averaged more than 45 with the bat in away Tests and it's no coincidence that those players - Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Gary Kirsten and Hashim Amla - are regarded as greats of the modern game.

Markram's current Test average of 55.50 from 10 Tests puts him second behind suspended Australian Steve Smith (61.37) among current Test batsmen. But while 12 current players average more than 50 in home Tests, only two players - Smith (50.96) and India's Ajinkya Rahane (52.05) - average more than 50 away from home.

And Markram will do well to join that pair in the Tests against Sri Lanka in Galle and Colombo this month, especially if veteran spinner Rangana Herath is able to overcome a hand injury.

"I have no idea what to expect in terms of conditions, but he is one of the best spinners in the world," Markram said.

"It’s going to be a great challenge and hopefully I can take some learnings out of the series."

While Markram has experience batting in the middle order, he's expected to continue in an opening role alongside Dean Elgar and he's backed one of his teammates to fill the vacancy left by the shock retirement of former skipper AB de Villiers.

Captain Faf du Plessis indicated this week that Temba Bavuma will take over the No.4 slot normally held by de Villiers, and Markram added it was up to the whole batting line-up to fill the void.

"It’s never nice to lose a player like AB," he said. "The quality that we lose is massive.

"We have got plenty of depth and guys on this tour that can do the same sort of role (as De Villiers).

"There might be a little bit more pressure on the batters, but there is always pressure in this profession and we have to just crack on with the game."

Batting average of more than 50 in away Tests
(current players, min 1000 runs)

Ajinkya Rahane - 52.05
Steve Smith - 50.96

Batting average of more than 50 in home Tests
(current players, min 1000 runs)

Steve Smith - 77.25
Virat Kohli - 63.50
Cheteshwar Pujara - 62.42
David Warner - 59.64
Usman Khawaja - 59.38
Mominul Haque - 59.03
Joe Root - 58.42
Aiden Markram - 55.55
Kane Williamson - 55.06
Ross Taylor - 54.33
Azhar Ali - 54.00
Dean Elgar - 52.07

* 'Neutral' Tests in the UAE have been classed as 'home Tests' for Pakistan batsmen and 'away Tests' for other players