Temba, Dean handed reins

Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced yesterday that Temba Bavuma (above) and Dean Elgar had been appointed as captains of the Proteas men’s team in the limited overs and Test formats respectively.

Bavuma will lead the Proteas in the 2021 and 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cups as well as the ICC Men’s World Cup in 2023.

Elgar will take the reins into the next cycle of the ICC World Test Championship.

CSA’s Director of Cricket (DoC), Graeme Smith said: “We are grateful to Quinton (De Kock) for the work he has put in as captain of the team in the limited overs formats and are indebted to him for stepping up while the national selection panel continued its search for the Test captain. We expect him to still play an integral role in the team’s leadership group.

“We as CSA are pleased with the appointments of Temba and Dean and believe that we have the men who will lead the Proteas back to their winning ways of old.

“The pair bring the required stability in both leadership and form to turn the ship in the direction that will eventually bring trophies back to the cabinets.”

Bavuma is honoured and delighted to lead the Proteas for the first time and said: “Captaining the Proteas has been a dream of mine for many years as those closest to me would know. This is one of the greatest honours of my life so far and I am looking forward to picking up where Quinny (de Kock) has left off in leading the team into the new culture that we have developed and continue to work on.”

Elgar echoed Bavuma’s words, saying: “I’ve always said that to captain your country in any form of the game is the biggest honour a player can receive. To captain my country’s Test team, which I believe to be the pinnacle of the game, is the biggest highlight of my career and I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent my country in such an important way.”

Smith confirmed as well that Bavuma would also be the Test team’s vice-captain. –