Elgar is looking to become a regular face in the South African Test squad
After being named as Jean Paul (JP) Duminy’s replacement for around about the next six months, South Africa batsman and part time spinner Dean Elgar has announced that he is ready and willing to take on any assignment the team management bestow upon him.
Elgar was called up as Duminy’s replacement after the left-handed batsman ruptured his Achilles tendon on the end of the first day of the first Test against Australia at Brisbane.
However, given Faf du Plessis’ outstanding performance during the Australia Test series, Elgar is sure to find it extremely difficult to secure a permanent spot for himself on the roster.
But, despite being known as a top order batsman, Elgar has already agreed to adjust his game to come in as a lower middle order batsman, which Duminy described as having less time to bat, but on the other hand, being allowed to play strokes more freely since “the bowlers tend to forget about you.”
Elgar stated that he was confident of being able to fit into the team with no problems whatsoever.
“I don’t think it will be a problem to adjust to the middle order, it’s just a bit of a mind-set change,” he said. “I see myself as a versatile, flexible player and I can bat in the top order or middle order, whatever the case may be. It’s one of my better assets.”
Elgar last represented South Africa during their limited overs series against England in August and despite coming in at different times, he only managed a top score of 42.
But, Elgar noted that even though he was disappointed of not having crossed the half century mark once during the series, it still felt good to gain some experience by playing against one of the top Twenty20 and ODI teams in international cricket today.
“Being someone who is not as active in the side and then coming for the first time to a place Australia tour, which is a tough tour, could be quite difficult,” Elgar said. “But luckily I have had a taste of some international cricket and that does help.”
Since Elgar has represented South Africa in the past, he knows all about head coach Gary Kirsten’s ideology, where each player is held responsible for his actions both on and off the field.
“You can prepare like an adult, they don’t treat you like children,” Elgar added. “t’s an adult’s set-up and they trust you to do what you have to do before a game. They trust you to prepare the way you want to prepare for a game or for a net session. There is a lot more responsibility on you.”
Elgar also mentioned that he felt pleased to be recognised as a Test batsman, and said: “I love first-class cricket because that’s the finest, purest form of the game, I also love my one-day cricket because it adds a different dimension to the game, but if you had to put the two on the table and say chose one, I would have to say the longer format.”
Even though he has received some criticism in the past for spending hours at the crease, Elgar still believes that patience really is a virtue in Test cricket.
“I think you reach a point where you just want to keep on batting – ask guys like Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla,” Elgar said. “It’s just the enjoyment factor. You’ve got to look at the finer things and realise that the longer you bat, the more you are going to score and the better it is for your side. That’s something I have worked on in the past, especially in four-day cricket.”