Proteas need ‘stocky bulldog’ to bite
DHAKA: As Proteas media liaison Lerato Malekutu showed Dean Elgar the way to the press centre across a soaked Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium outfield yesterday afternoon, a large group of local photographers and cameramen had despite the constant spitting from the heavens above positioned themselves for a snapshot of South Africa’s opener at the other end.
Bemused by all the attention, and even more so, when the paparazzi irritably ordered Malekutu to make way for them to have a clear view of their desired target, Elgar quipped on the sidelines: “Why are there so many people here? Am I announcing my retirement or something?”
It is quite apt that Elgar should use the “retirement” analogy for during his short time with the Proteas he has already witnessed two seasoned opening batsmen – Graeme Smith and Alviro Petersen – hang up their willows in quick succession leaving him as the “senior pro” at the top of the order, a reality that he is still finding hard to adjust to.
“I don’t see myself as a senior player. I haven’t changed much. It is just that people have left,” Elgar said in Mirpur ahead of the Proteas being forced to train indoors due to persistent showers yesterday. “I am pretty settled and basic in my preparation as an individual player. There are Overall career Tests: 16, Runs: 828, HS: 121, Average: 39.42, 10os: 3, 50s: 3 Opening Tests: 8, Runs: 602, HS: 121, Average: 50.16, 10os: 2, 50s: 3 At St George’s Park Tests: 2, Runs: 220, HS: 121, Average: 73.33, 100s: 1, 50s: 1 processes that I have done in the past and pretty much doing it now.”
Being the centre of attraction is definitely something new to the 28-year-old who originally hails from Welkom. It was only 16 months ago that Cricket South Africa sought to cut Elgar from its central contract list. The suits that occupy the heady positions in the Illovo offices were clearly not impressed with a player that had begun his Test career with two ducks in a row.
The fact he was batting out of position – Elgar was a regular opener at first-class domestic level but was tasked with a middle-order post for the Proteas – was not taken into consideration. Lesser individuals would have taken aim at the system or even opted to quit seeking out options where the financial might of the British Pound or Euro was significantly more favourable.
But that is not the cloth from which Elgar is cut. Built like a stocky bulldog, and blessed with the same fighting qualities, he was intent to show the powers-that-be that he deserved to be at the highest level of the game after years of serving an impressive domestic apprenticeship at both the Knights and SA A level.
“Mother Cricket” often sleeps with one eye open and is wont to reward such determined individuals and Elgar received his break on the same day as being culled from the contract list when he was promoted to open the batting against Australia in Port Elizabeth after Alviro Petersen fell ill on the morning of the second Test.
After the Proteas were mauled the previous week in Centurion, Elgar’s gritty firstinnings 83 against the likes of Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle hauled South Africa off the canvas and into a position for Dale Steyn to complete a famous comeback victory. The impressive performance not only changed the minds of those at CSA, but also ensured Elgar was now a permanent fixture on the Proteas’ team sheet at the top of the order going forward.
He has not looked back from that fateful day and has since his promotion scored 602 runs, including two centuries and three fifties in eight Tests at the impressive average of 50.16. And unlike his contemporaries that thrive when the ball is flying through with plenty of pace and bounce off the pitch that allows them to throw their hands at it, Elgar has a greater preference for the slow poison of the subcontinent pitches and deadbeat track of St George’s Park back home. Centuries at Galle against Sri Lanka and in his last Test in PE provides testimony to both his technique and the temperament and further indication that he will be a key figure in this coming second Test against Bangladesh starting here on Thursday.
Having done the initial graft on the road-like surface of the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium surface last week in Chittagong only to chuck away all the hard work during the second session, Elgar will no doubt want to rectify matters this week. Considering all the rain that has been around, and with weather interruptions almost certain to take time out of the game, it becomes even more crucial for Elgar and his new opening partner Stiaan van Zyl to take full advantage in South Africa’s first innings.
“I think especially in the sub, it is one those factors that you have to identify. The first innings is quite important for both teams. Batting once is obviously key and ideal, but we understand there is lot of hard work to be done. It would be perfect if we could achieve it because it takes a lot of pressure off the team and then we can express ourselves with the ball,” he explained.