Dean Elgar becomes fourth consecutive Titans player to lead Proteas in Test cricket
The extent to which local players from the Titans play a role in the leadership of the national cricket setup was underlined by the appointment of veteran batsman Dean Elgar as the new Test captain of the Proteas.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has announced the appointments of Dean Elgar (Titans) and Temba Bavuma (Lions) as captains of the Proteas men’s team in the Test and limited overs formats respectively.
Elgar will take the reins into the next cycle of the ICC World Test Championship, while Bavuma will lead the Proteas in the 2021 and 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cups as well as the ICC Men’s World Cup in 2023.
These appointments again confirm the great influence that local players of the Titans have in the national setup at the Proteas.
Elgar follows in the footsteps of three Titans players who have taken on the responsibility as captain of the Proteas in white ball cricket before him. He takes over the responsibility from Quinton de Kock, who has made it clear from the start that he will only fulfill the role temporarily.
De Kock took over the captaincy from Faf du Plessis, who took over the reins from AB de Villiers a few seasons ago. They are of course all Titans legends.
Meanwhile, another Titans player, Aiden Markram, also led the Proteas on several occasions.
“We as CSA are pleased with the appointments of Temba and Dean and believe that we have the men who will lead the Proteas back to their winning ways of old. The pair bring the required stability in both leadership and form to turn the ship in the direction that will eventually bring trophies back to the cabinets,” said CSA’s Director of Cricket, Graeme Smith.
Smith also said Elgar has made no secret of his Test captaincy ambitions over the years and CSA are pleased to have a leader who is ready, willing and able to step up to the massive task of turning the Test cricket fortunes around.
“His role as a leader in the Test team has never been in doubt and I know that he relishes the prospect of captaining the Test team. We are confident that he will bring the same grit and determination to his captaincy as he has brought to his many performances on the field over many years,” Smith remarked.
Elgar has declared that he is ready for the great task that is expected of him,
“To captain my country’s Test team, which I believe to be the pinnacle of the game, is the biggest highlight of my career and I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent my country in such an important way,” he concluded.
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