South Africa's veteran opening batter and former Test captain, Dean Elgar, has announced his retirement from international cricket after the upcoming Test series against India. The 36-year-old, with a career spanning 12 years and 86 Tests, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent his country, highlighting the upcoming New Year's match in Cape Town as his farewell.
Elgar, South Africa's eighth-highest Test run-scorer with 5146 runs, conveyed his appreciation for the incredible journey, highlighting Cape Town as his favorite stadium. His decision, reportedly influenced by not being part of the long-term plans of red-ball coach Shukri Conrad, positions him as a potential overseas player for Essex in the 2024 season.
The retirement means Elgar will miss South Africa's two-Test series in New Zealand, forcing them to field a makeshift side. Neil Brand is expected to lead, partnering with Tony de Zorzi at the top. While there were earlier speculations about Elgar's future, Cricket South Africa Director of Cricket Enoch Nkwe acknowledged Elgar's unique cricketing style, describing him as an old-school cricketer who fearlessly took on challenges, leading the team when needed. Elgar's captaincy saw successes, including series wins against the West Indies and India, but South Africa missed the World Test Championship final due to losses against England and Australia.