South Africa to begin World Test C’ship title defence with target on their back

South Africa captain Aiden Markram says his side can expect to have a target on their back when they begin a new cycle of the World Test Championship as defending champions.

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South Africa play a two-Test series in Pakistan, starting on Sunday, and two games in India in November as they bid to retain the trophy they won in June by beat Australia by five wickets at Lord’s.

The World Test Championship is decided at the end of a two-year cycle, with the top two teams competing in a one-off five-day match.

"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. We want to chase a place in the final again and lift that trophy once again but realise each team will be coming for us,” said Markram, who stands in as skipper for Temba Bavuma who has been ruled out of the tour with a calf strain.

“We, as a team, have to keep getting better and improving and playing well in all different types of conditions. It starts for us in Pakistan, and it's a challenge the boys will be up for,” he told a press conference on Monday. South Africa have been practising on specially prepared spinning wickets at Pretoria’s High Performance Centre.