On the eve of his 86th and remaining Test match, Dean Elgar mentioned he was “sad” South Africa can be sending a weakened staff to play two Test matches in New Zealand in March.
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“The situation we’ve been put in is not ideal,” Elgar mentioned on Tuesday, on the eve of the second Test towards India at Newlands, the place he’ll captain South Africa in his final match earlier than retiring from worldwide cricket.
Only two of the gamers who gained the primary Test by an innings final week will likely be travelling to New Zealand – the end result of a call by Cricket South Africa to prioritise the SA20 franchise competitors.
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“Irrespective of what has happened behind the scenes there is still a lot of hunger (for Test cricket) from the guys who are playing,” he mentioned.
Dean Elgar mentioned the optimistic from the state of affairs was that it was a possibility “for the guys going to New Zealand to put in performances and to eventually become regular members of the squad.”
But he shortly mentioned the choice to place the Twenty20 league forward of Tests had nothing to do with the gamers.
“What happens behind the scenes is totally out of our control. It’s out of our hands, the coaches’ hands, the team management’s hands,” mentioned the 36-year-old.
“It’s sad that it’s gone in that direction. As players we don’t have control over that, we have to focus on what we can focus on.”
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Elgar’s Indian counterpart Rohit Sharma mentioned for him Test cricket was the final word format of the sport.
“Obviously for me, Test cricket is the ultimate challenge,” he mentioned at his eve of match press convention.
“You would need to see the perfect gamers enjoying in that format.
“I don’t know what the discussions are in Cricket South Africa however from my perspective I feel that the precedence and loads of thought needs to be given to Test cricket.
“Luckily we don’t have those kinds of problems in India at this point of time.”
Sharma mentioned all international locations wanted to advertise Test cricket.
“It’s something all countries need to protect and give importance to,” mentioned the 36-year-old.
“All the nations that are playing, it is their responsibility to keep it nice and entertaining and competitive.”
‘Our highlight Test’
Elgar mentioned it was as much as cricket’s directors “to make the correct selections for gamers and the longevity of our format, particularly our Test format.
“It’s up to players to go out and win and show the hunger for this format. As long as I’m around I’m going to be a Test fanatic and I think a lot of our guys are Test fanatics.”
Dean Elgar mentioned he hoped younger gamers would get the alternatives to have the experiences he had had in 12 years of Test cricket.
“We can combat and promote the format as a lot as you possibly can nevertheless it’s as much as the blokes who rely the beans.
“Hopefully there will be a bit of sanity in the decisions for our players going forward,” he mentioned.
Elgar criticised South Africa’s restricted Test schedule in which they solely play two-match sequence till the 2026/27 season after they play three matches towards each Australia and England.
“It would be sad going forward for us just to play with two Test matches in a series, to me it’s not the best way for guys to learn about the format,” he mentioned.
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Regarding the Test beginning on Wednesday, Elgar – who scored an imperious 185 in the primary Test– mentioned it was vital to give attention to the match and never his private state of affairs.
“It’s a massive Test for us, our highlight Test of the year,” mentioned Elgar, who has been linked with English county sides Somerset and Essex.
“We have one other recreation the place now we have to make a strong begin.
“We’ll worry about the retirement afterwards.”
By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
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