Elgar stands the Test of time
PAINFUL as it is, Dean Elgar is happy to take blows to the body if it helps his team to win, while it also elevates his status as captain in the dressing room.
The Proteas skipper produced an innings that ranks among the alltime greatest Test knocks by a South African batter, scoring 96 not out to help his team beat India by seven wickets in the second Test at the Wanderers yesterday.
“(Bowlers) should stop hitting me because I don’t seem to go out when they hit me. I draw on that pain. Some call it stupid, some call it brave. I like to see it as the latter,” Elgar said.
He’ll take those hits, especially when it means getting the team the kind of win they achieved against an outstanding Indian team.
South Africa successfully chased down 240 – the highest target they have achieved in the fourth innings of a Test match at the Wanderers – on a tricky pitch against an excellent attack to level the series at 1-1.
Importantly as a new captain – this was Elgar’s fourth match as Proteas Test captain – yesterday will strengthen his leadership in the change-room.
“I like to see it as another influencing factor within our team,” Elgar said.
“If I’m willing to put my body on the line, then so should everyone else. It is not a demand. Playing for your country, you are expected to do that, irrespective of how you’re feeling, and focus on the bigger task at hand, which is to try and get a win. Me getting hit is just another article.”
As magnificent as his performance was individually, this was a victory in which a number of players made valuable contributions.
Marco Jansen took eight wickets, Keegan Petersen scored 62 in the first innings – a knock that must help to establish him at this level – Temba Bavuma made a vital 51 in the first dig, and Kagiso Rabada bowled a match-changing spell on the third morning.
“On a pitch as challenging as this one, the little 60s, 50s, 40s all contribute in a big way,” said Elgar.
“For Keegan, it’s important that he gained that experience and confidence with regards to his performance. I can only see him coming good from this achievement.”
Elgar was hesitant to claim this win as a turning point for his side.
“It’s a step in the right direction,” he stated.
“We will still have a lot of challenging encounters coming our way – even in the next Test. We will be pushed to different boundaries and it is how the guys respond to that.
“I’d like to think it’s a massive positive move in the right direction; it will be a confidence booster for the players. We have a relatively young and inexperienced squad, guys who haven’t been in the Test arena for quite some time.
“We have to bear in mind that it is not always going to go our way, it won’t always go like we had in the second Test.”
It was a win for the ages and an innings for the ages, too.
“This is right up there,” he said about his second-innings knock.
“It’s contributing in a big way to a win, which speaks a lot more than anything when it comes to personal gain or accolades.
“I was extremely glad that as captain, I could be there at the end and lead us over the line. It was a do-or-die kind of Test for us. It’s up there, maybe top three in terms of influential innings I played for the Proteas.”