Former South Africa captain Dean Elgar to retire from international cricket after Test series against India

Former South Africa captain Dean Elgar on Friday announced that he would retire from international cricket following the upcoming two-match Test series against India  at home. Elgar will play his final international match for the Proteas when they take on India in the second Test in Cape Town starting from 3 January.

“Playing the game of cricket has always been a dream of mine but having the opportunity to represent your country is the ultimate! Having had the privilege to do it for 12 years internationally is simply beyond my wildest dreams,” Elgar said in a statement.

“It has been an incredible journey that I have been fortunate enough to have. The Cape Town Test will be my last. My favourite stadium in the world. A place I scored my first Test run against New Zealand and hopefully my last too,” Elgar added.

The Dean

😎Pure Class
🤌Pure Elegance
💪Pure Grit

You left it all on the field and for that we SALUTE you 💯🏏

Read more – https://t.co/C24G3bsE3e#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/E14tEa1Qas

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) December 22, 2023

Elgar made his international debut for South Africa against England in an ODI in Cardiff in August 2012. He would go onto make his Test debut later that year against Australia in Perth, where he endured ducks in both innings.

Elgar has scored 5146 runs from 84 Test matches at an average of 37.28, scoring 13 centuries and 23 fifties. Elgar has also played eight ODIs, scoring 104 runs.

“Elgar will fittingly end his international career with the two Test matches — the first to be played at his home ground in Centurion from 26–30 December and the second at the venue where he scored his first Test runs, Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town, from 03–07 January,” Cricket South Africa (CSA) said in a statement.

Elgar also had a successful stint as South Africa’s Test captain, winning nine out of 19 matches, while losing seven and drawing four.

South Africa’s director of cricket, Enoch Nkwe, said, “He is a real old-school cricketer that can dig in, absorb and fight. I have no doubt the game will dearly miss him.

“He has always given everything for his country and never showed any fear, no matter the opposition. He was always there to take on the challenge, leading as captain when the country needed him most,” Nkwe added.

With PTI inputs 

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