Dean Elgar to retire from international cricket after India Tests 

Veteran South Africa batter Dean Elgar will hang his boots from international cricket at the end of the upcoming two-Test series against India . Cricket South Africa confirmed the 36 year old’s decision on Thursday (December 22). The two games in Centurion and Cape Town will bring down curtains to an illustrious 12 year career in which Elgar played more than 80 tests, scored over 5000 runs and led the Proteas on 17 occasions in red ball cricket. 

“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. A game that has given me so much. The Cape Town Test will be my last. My favourite stadium in the world. A place where I scored my first Test run against New Zealand and hopefully my last too," Elgar was cited   in a CSA release.

"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. It has been an incredible journey that I have been fortunate enough to have."

Elgar commenced his Test career in 2012 at Perth and infamously bagged a pair of ducks despite coming into the Test arena on the back of a stellar show in first class cricket where he averaged a staggering 60 over the preceding two years. Two tests later he eventually  announced his arrival to international cricket with an unbeaten 103 against New Zealand in Gqebera. 

In spite of that gutsy knock against the Kiwis, Elgar couldn’t really make a name for himself in the middle order. It was only when he moved to partner Greame Smith at the top of the order that he truly came into his element. A traditional, sedulous opener, Elgar was often content to throw caution to the wind, even willing to put his body on the line to occupy the crease for longer durations. He notched a memorable ton in Galle in 2014, the first by a SA opener in Sri Lanka and over the years emerged as one of the best openers in the longer format. 

No one can forget his 160 in Visakhapatnam against India and the likes of R.Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. That innings was a testament of his ability to adapt under testing playing conditions. He was subsequently promoted to full time Test captaincy in 2021 and guided a Test series win in West Indies and a come from behind victory at home against India in 2021-22. That form was short lived as SA lost back to back away series to England and Australia which led to long changers and Temba Bavuma displaced Elgar at the helm of the Test unit. 

Over the 84 Tests played so far, the opening batter has scored 5146 runs at an average of 37.28 including 13 centuries. He also played 8 One Day Internationals for the men in green.