India vs South Africa: 'Frustrated' Aiden Markram punches career prospects

RANCHI: It's not every day that a touring side loses one of its promising cricketers to an injury caused by "frustration". But this is just what happened on Thursday after South Africa's 25-year-old opener Aiden Markram was ruled out of the third Test due to a fractured wrist caused by punching an object "in a moment of frustration with his own performance," as Cricket South Africa said in a statement.
"He lashed out at a solid object, resulting in his injury. The injury took place following the opener's dismissal in the second innings of the match," the statement added.
It has been a frustrating tour for the Proteas so far and Markram's premature departure tells a story. The tour had started on a promising note with the T20I series ending in a tie but the Test series has been a disaster. None of the batsmen have put their hands up and delivered. South Africa have already lost the series while Markram has had an inconsistent run. He scored two hundreds in the practice games but scored only 5 and 39 in the first Test and was dismissed for a pair in the second.
Team doctor Hashendra Ramjee said, "A CT scan of Aiden Markram's wrist showed a fracture involving the wrist bones. The medical team has therefore ruled him out of the next Test match against India. Arrangements have been made for him to see a specialist on his return to South Africa for further management of the injury."
Markram, who left for South Africa on Thursday morning, admitted he had let his team down. "It's sad to be going home on this note and I completely understand what I've done wrong and take full accountability for it. It's unacceptable in a Proteas environment and to let the team down is what hurts me the most. I've learned a lot from this and the other players I'm sure, have learned from it as well. We understand in sport that emotions run high and sometimes the frustration gets the better of you as it did for me, but like I said, it's no excuse. I've taken full responsibility for it, I have apologised to the team and hopefully I can make it up to them and the people of South Africa soon."
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis, on his part, said, "We are a proud nation, so for me it's very important that the guys don't feel like 'there's one week left in India' to get on that plane to South Africa. The Tests are being played for the Test championship, so for me the challenge is more mental," he added.
Du Plessis also admitted that losing the way they did in the first two Tests did dent the team's confidence. Markram's senior opening partner Dean Elgar, who had started the series with a superb century but could not maintain the form, said, "Keeping your spirits high even when the chips are down is very important, especially in the subcontinent. You get stretched as a person, as a cricketer, you get to know yourself a lot. It's always a learning curve coming to India."