Four questions the Proteas need to answer the next two weeks

The Proteas begin their era under new coach Ottis Gibson on Thursday when they take on Bangladesh in Potchefstroom.

Continuity has been the keyword for the Test side despite a 3-1 series loss to England last month but there are some questions that already need to be answered in this series.

Here are the four most pertinent ones.

Will Aiden Markram be worth the hype?

No man in South African cricket is currently burdened by expectation more than the young Titans opener.

For the last few months, he’s been “groomed” to become a Test cricketer.

He’s been fast-tracked as captain of the South Africa ‘A’ side and spent time with the Test squad.

Markam’s form has also been outstanding in the build-up to his debut on Thursday.

But will he take the pressure in his stride or will he struggle?

And, more importantly, if he does: will there be patience with him.

Will Temba Bavuma finally score big runs?

Nobody can doubt the value of the diminutive middle-order batter to the Proteas cause.

Bavuma is fighter – but a classy one – and drew rave reviews from his England counterparts for the way his technique held up in difficult conditions in the UK.

He’s scored runs against the best attacks in the world yet his average of 31.60 remains relatively low.

Granted, Bavuma had to rescue the batting order more than once last season and that responsibility is not conducive to big scores.

However, when he gets himself in in this series, he’ll need to go big and score hundreds.

It’s the vital next step in becoming a fine Test player.

How much will the bowling attack miss Vernon Philander?

Russell Domingo used to say the one thing the Proteas attack misses is the stocky seamer’s control.

And he’s right.

It’s all good and well to have a potentially potent attack of Morne Morkel, Kagiso Rabada and Duanne Olivier but they are strike bowlers.

When the going gets tough and the runs flow, you need a guy who can just calm things down.

Philander, on song, is that guy.

Olivier has a reputation for actually being economical at franchise level but at heart he’s a strike bowler.

And do you want Morkel to fulfill that role?

Will the real Hashim Amla stand up?

The bearded stalwart hasn’t been bad in 2017 – he still averages 40 in Tests.

But the consistency and the big scores have gone missing.

Amla has only scored one Test century the entire year and hasn’t been the bedrock of the Proteas’ top-order.

It might merely have been a natural slump and last week’s 189 for the Cape Cobras in the Sunfoil Series showed his hunger.

The Proteas will hope it’s a sign of things to come.