Elgar looks to bow out on top as Proteas aim for series win at Newlands

Dean Elgar will be looking to conclude his international career on another high as he unexpectedly captains South Africa in the second and last Test against India starting at Newlands on Wednesday.

The 36-year-old Elgar announced just days before the first Test in Pretoria he would retire from international cricket after the conclusion of the brief series against the top-ranked Indians.

After a man-of-the-match performance in the first Test, where his 185 laid the platform for South Africa’s innings and 32-run victory, he will be hoping to sign off with another win.

Though there were significant contributions from the bowlers, the Proteas’ emphatic victory in Centurion had much to do with Elgar's dogged determination at the crease.

It helped ensure the hosts cannot lose the brief series to India, who had targeted this trip, dubbed the ‘final frontier, to win a series in South Africa for the first time.

Injury to Temba Bavuma also thrust Elgar back into the captain’s role that was taken away from him last February.

South Africa’s young side can expect something of a backlash in conditions that will be a little less intimidating to India than in Pretoria and where the chastised tourists have promised a better performance.

Captain Rohit Sharma fended off home criticism by pointing out previous success away from home.

“We might have put in this performance here, but don't forget what we did in Australia and England,” he said.

“We won the series in Australia on the back of our batting. We drew the series in England through our batting and bowling.

“These performances can happen. It doesn't mean we don't know how to bat outside India. Sometimes the opposition performs better than us.”

India are likely to have all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja returning after upper back spasms kept him out of the first Test and could make other changes among their underperforming seamers.

South Africa are unbeaten in six previous Tests at Newlands against India but face a tough examination despite being in a buoyant mood after their success in the Boxing Day Test.

“We’ve proven we can produce players, but sometimes we are too humble as a group. We are so quick to talk up other players and we don’t give our players enough credit,” said coach Shukri Conrad in an effort to pump up his players further. 

Reuters