Former South African Test captain Dean Elgar has officially announced his retirement from international cricket following the upcoming Test series against India, set to commence next week. The 36-year-old, renowned for his resilience at the crease, has amassed over 5,000 Test runs, including 13 centuries, throughout his cricketing career.
Elgar will bid farewell to international cricket at Newlands ground in Cape Town, starting with the Test match scheduled for January 3. Expressing his sentiment about the decision, he stated, “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.” Notably, Cape Town holds special significance for Elgar, being his favorite stadium where he scored his first Test run against New Zealand.
Reports suggest that Elgar’s retirement decision may be linked to not being included in coach Shukri Conrad’s long-term plans. The seasoned cricketer made his debut against Australia 12 years ago, and despite a scoreless debut, he evolved into South Africa’s eighth-highest run-scorer, amassing 5,146 runs. His notable achievements include a career-best score of 199 against Bangladesh in 2017.
Elgar served as the captain from May 2021 until January of the following year, guiding South Africa to a commendable third place in the World Test Championship. Cricket South Africa’s chief executive, Pholetsi Moseki, commended Elgar, stating that he “represented his country with honour” and highlighting his grit and determination as qualities that resonate with all South Africans.
Director of cricket Enoch Nkwe acknowledged Elgar as an “old-school cricketer” in the era of power-hitting, praising his ability to endure, absorb pressure, and fight. Nkwe expressed certainty that the game will dearly miss Elgar, emphasizing his unwavering commitment and fearlessness against any opposition.
