Dean Elgar is playing his farewell series against India and has left a mark in the two-Test series. Dean Elgar was the chief destroyer of the Indian bowling line-up by scoring a majestic 185 in the 1st Test that saw South Africa beat the visitors. The elegant left handed batter was in sublime touch and was finding gaps between the players smartly.
Dean Elgar pulverized the bowling attack, scoring 28 boundaries in his innings, his highest-ever fours in a Test innings. He was particularly hard on Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur and flayed them with imperious shots to the fence. Indian bowlers were quite clueless against the sheer brilliance of Elgar.
Irfan Pathan says Deal Elgar is weak against a short ball pitched on his body. He cites the Australia-South Africa Test series in 2022-23, where he had a miserable time with the bat, scoring only 56 runs in 6 innings. He was dismissed frequently on the short ball, which the Australian bowlers exposed and took advantage to dismiss him early.
Dean Elgar on a roll
The Indian bowlers were guilty of bowling half-volleys wide of the off-stump, which were freebies for Dean Elgar. Indian bowlers wanted to give a memorable farewell to Elgar and gifted runs to him. The wayward bowling from India made it easy for a player who made a name in Test cricket by putting high value on occupying the crease.
Indian bowlers should change their tactics
Irfan hopes that the Indian bowlers learn their lesson and will look to bowl short-pitch balls to Dean Elgar and get him out early in his last test match. There are chances that Mukesh Kumar, the right arm pacer might replace the lanky fast bowler Prasidh Krishna as the pacer wasn’t at his best in his debut match.
Elgar will be high on confidence after his knock at Centurion and being appointed captain after the injury of Temba Bavuma. It won’t be wrong to say that Dean Elgar has got similar traits to the iconic skipper Graeme Smith who till now is the most successful captain with more than 50 Test wins to his name.
Elgar’s last dance will be worth watching for all cricket lovers. He is someone who won’t wait for things to happen and is quite fearless and aggressive in his approach. The South African fans would be hoping that there is a fairytale ending to his career and the Proteas continue their dominance over the mighty Indians.
“Elgar is known to have problems with the short ball,” – Irfan Pathan questions India’s bowling tactics to former South African skipper in opening Test on Star Sports.