South African cricket stalwart Dean Elgar bids farewell after glorious career

Former South Africa Test captain Dean Elgar has revealed his decision to retire from international cricket following the upcoming Test series against India.

The 36-year-old, renowned for his unwavering resilience at the crease, will make his final appearance at the iconic Newlands ground in Cape Town, starting January 3.

Elgar, having amassed over 5,000 Test runs, marked his decision with sentimental reflections, stating, “As they say, ‘all good things come to an end,’ and the Indian home series will be my last, as I have made the decision to retire from our beautiful game.”

Expressing his emotional connection to Newlands, Elgar reminisced, “The Cape Town Test will be my last. My favorite stadium in the world. A place I scored my first Test run against New Zealand and hopefully my last too.”

Reports circulating suggest that Elgar’s retirement decision may have been influenced by his exclusion from coach Shukri Conrad’s long-term plans, signaling a shift in the team’s strategy.

Debuting against Australia 12 years ago, Elgar initially faced a tough start, failing to score in each innings. However, he evolved into South Africa’s eighth-highest scorer, amassing 5,146 runs and leaving an indelible mark on the cricketing landscape.

During his captaincy from May 2021 until January this year, Elgar led South Africa to a commendable third place in the World Test Championship, highlighted by a memorable 2-1 home series victory over India.

Cricket South Africa’s Chief Executive Pholetsi Moseki praised Elgar, stating that he “represented his country with honor,” emphasizing his grittiness and determination.