Somerset land Elgar but not as a Kolpak

DEAN Elgar is the latest South African on the move to a county, but the opening batsman has joined Somerset as an overseas signing.

Elgar, 29, will be available across all formats in 2017 when international commitments allow, having first played for Somerset in 2013.

Elgar is one of a number of South Africans who will ply their trade in England this summer, though a number of his compatriots have signed on Kolpak deals.

This time, though, Elgar has not waved goodbye to an international career that has seen him play 32 Tests scoring 1,737 runs at an average of 38.60 with a top score of 129. He has also played in six ODIs.

Elgar said:“I really enjoyed my time at Somerset back in 2013 and I’m looking forward to going back. The club is in a really good place at the moment and I’m pleased that I’m going to be a part of that.

“They were unlucky not to win the title last year and I hope that I can help them go one better in 2017.”

Elgar’s arrival is set to fill the hole in Somerset’s line-up left by the retirement of former captain Chris Rogers at the end of the 2016 season. Marcus Trescothick will still be at Taunton. though, having signed a new deal in August.

Somerset director of cricket Matt Maynard said:“He has all the characteristics that you want in a player. He’s a fighter, he battles hard and he brings the sort of gritty determination that the members and supporters will appreciate.

“He has a good array of shots and is a top class fielder. He is a 100 per cent man and the kind of person who will absolutely buy in to the values that this club holds dear.

“Over the last couple of years he has proved himself to be an excellent batsman but there is more to his game than that. He will also offer us a more than useful option with his left-arm spin.”

TCP VERDICT

Finally a South African moving to a county as an overseas, and not a Kolpak. Elgar is a terrific signing for Somerset, but more importantly, that’s good news for South Africa. He will get used to English conditions before the Proteas face the Three Lions in a Test series.While not signing as a Kolpak shows there is still some who want to be a South African international