South Africa’s Dean Elgar to retire from international cricket, following the India Test series

After the current two-Test series against India, veteran South African batsman Dean Elgar will announce his retirement from international cricket. Cricket South Africa announced the 36-year-old’s decision on Thursday, December 22. Elgar’s 12-year career saw him play in over 80 Test matches, score over 5000 runs, and captain the Proteas 17 times in the longest format of the game. The matches in Centurion and Cape Town will mark the end of Elgar’s career.

Elgar has played 84 Test matches since making his debut in 2012. With 13 centuries and 23 fifties, the left-handed hitter has amassed 5,146 runs at a 37.28 average.

He is one of just eight men from South Africa to reach the 5,000-run mark in Test cricket. He has amassed 5,146 runs at 37.28, taking 15 wickets along with 13 hundreds and 23 half-centuries. In eight ODI appearances from 2012 to 2018, he amassed 104 runs and claimed two wickets. The cricketer is aware that Alastair Cook, who announced his retirement at the conclusion of the 2023 season, is being pursued by Essex to become their opening batsman. On the county circuit, he has previously represented Somerset and Surrey.

“Playing the game of cricket has always been a dream of mine but having the opportunity to represent your country is the ultimate,” Elgar explained in his statement. “Having had the privilege to do it for 12 years internationally is simply beyond my wildest dreams. It has been an incredible journey that I have been fortunate enough to have.”

“As they say, ‘all good things come to an end’, and the Indian home series will be my last, as I have made the decision to retire from our beautiful game. A game that has given me so much. The Cape Town Test will be my last. My favourite stadium in the world. A place I scored my first Test run against New Zealand and hopefully my last too,” he concluded.

Temba Bavuma took Dean Elgar’s place as South Africa’s test squad captain. Bavuma captained the Proteas squad during their previous ODIs. Dean Elgar’s retirement is mostly due to less test matches in the future, according to South African head coach Shukri Conrad, who also shared this information.

Enoch Nkwe, Cricket South Africa’s director of cricket, stated: “Dean Elgar represents a rare brand of cricketer in an age where everything is about innovation and power-hitting. He is a real old-school cricketer that can dig in, absorb and fight. I have no doubt the game will dearly miss him.”

“He has always given everything for his country and never showed any fear, no matter the opposition. He was always there to take on the challenge, leading as captain when the country needed him most.”

Elgar debuted in the South African middle order in the Perth Test in 2012, when he notoriously collected a pair of ducks despite having fought his way into the selection after averaging over 60 in first-class cricket over the previous two years. Two Tests later, he scored an undefeated 103 against New Zealand in Gqeberha.

Cricket South Africa chief executive Pholetsi Moseki said Elgar has “represented his country with honour”. “His grittiness and determination are two qualities that really stood out; and these are attributes that all South Africans can relate to,” Moseki said.