Justin Langer calls South Africa captain his “number one priority” as Markram becomes the most expensive overseas pick at the auction

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Aiden Markram is set to lead Manchester Super Giants in the upcoming men’s edition of The Hundred, following a major pay-day at Thursday’s auction where he emerged as the most expensive overseas signing. The South Africa captain has now become a key figure across multiple franchises within the Super Giants network.

Markram is already part of Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League and Durban’s Super Giants in SA20, strengthening the franchise’s leadership group across leagues. Head coach Justin Langer highlighted Markram’s leadership qualities as a major factor behind the signing.

Langer said the franchise viewed Markram as their top target at the auction, praising not only his ability with the bat but also his strong leadership skills. According to Langer, Markram’s calm temperament, tactical awareness and experience captaining South Africa make him an ideal choice to guide the team in the competition.

Meanwhile, Daniel Vettori is still hoping to convince England’s white-ball captain Harry Brook to continue leading Sunrisers Leeds. Brook had earlier indicated during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup that he might step down from the role after previously captaining Northern Superchargers for two seasons under Andrew Flintoff.

Vettori remains optimistic that Brook could still take on the responsibility, though he acknowledged the player’s busy international schedule. Sunrisers Leeds are set to face MI London on the opening day of the men’s Hundred on July 21, shortly after England’s ODI series against India.

Due to England’s packed calendar, Brook may only be able to join the squad a couple of days before the opening match. Vettori added that the final decision will depend on discussions between the player and the coaching staff, considering the workload from both Test and white-ball commitments.

If Brook decides against captaining the side, Sunrisers Leeds still have several experienced options within their squad. Players such as Mitchell Marsh, Dan Lawrence and Zak Crawley have previous captaincy experience and could step into leadership roles if needed.

Ahead of the auction, three men’s captains had already been confirmed for the tournament. Phil Salt will lead Welsh Fire, Jacob Bethell will captain Birmingham Phoenix, and Sam Curran has been appointed captain of MI London.

Other leadership decisions are still pending across franchises. Sam Billings is considered the leading candidate to captain Trent Rockets, while Liam Livingstone and David Willey are among the contenders to lead London Spirit. Meanwhile, Southern Brave could appoint an overseas player as captain.

In the women’s competition, two captains have already been confirmed. Ellyse Perry will lead Birmingham Phoenix Women, while Meg Lanning is set to captain Manchester Super Giants Women. Other potential leaders include Charlie Dean at London Spirit Women and Ashleigh Gardner for Trent Rockets Women.

Coaches across the league are still finalising their leadership groups, but Markram’s appointment is expected to be one of the biggest decisions ahead of the new season of The Hundred.