Recently replaced Proteas Test captain Dean Elgar will be looking to finish his international season on a high note in the second Test against the West Indies starting on Wednesday morning.
Elgar has only played for the Proteas at Test level, so he will not be part of the ODI and T20 squads that will be fielded in the coming months, and if he is selected, he will only feature again in the upcoming Test series. against India in December and January.
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With the local franchise’s season also coming to an end at the end of this month, it means Elgar will have precious little cricket to play until the next season takes place in October, unless he has a gig in England’s visible counties.
District Cricket
Elgar will be 36 when the Proteas play again and is at the end of his career, so he needs to stay fit and in shape if he wants to continue to be considered in international cricket.
He had a mixed first Test against the Windies, scoring 71 in the first innings and one in the second, but got out in almost the same disappointing way both times, slicing the ball straight to the third man fielder.
New Proteas Test coach Shukri Conrad believes Elgar still has a lot to give to the Proteas, but admits he will decline towards the end of the year.
“We have to see what Dean’s winter looks like. Hopefully, he can find a show in the county scene that will keep him going and then starting next season, we’ll see where everyone is, not just Dean,” said Conrad in Proteas pre-match press conference. .
“If we feel, regardless of age and experience, if a player is still performing, he will be part of our squad. It’s a real concern for a guy like Dean who can’t show his talent like other guys. We’ll have to wait and see how it goes.” .
More cricket test
Conrad also said the Proteas need to play more Test cricket, as they have secured a raw deal in their future international tour program from 2023 to 2027, which will only play two to four Tests a year during that time.
“We need to play more Test cricket and we cannot be excluded because we are not the leading lights in Test cricket. We are, and so are the West Indies,” said Conrad.
“The sad reality is that in a place like the West Indies and certainly not here, the lack of Test cricket or the lack of a national team playing in the Test arena may mean that interest starts to wane, and the place is not expected to reach.
“Because if a young star doesn’t have the ambition and the desire to play for his country, it’s the beginning of the end, so hopefully both of them can put on a show that makes people sit up.”