South African captain Dean Elgar indicated on Monday that the gloves are off in the series decider against India and said Virat Kohli’s return for their biggest test in the “last 10-15 years” will intensify the battle. The second Test at the Wanderers saw some quite heated exchanges between the players and with a fit again Kohli back for the all-important game, Elgar feels there will be more verbal blows in the Newlands.
“Virat brings a different dynamic to the game. I don’t think I missed him. But I think his team may have missed him, no doubt only from a captaincy point of view and maybe from a strategic point of view.
“He’s a world-class player and very experienced within their team. His name speaks for itself and he’s one of the more respected cricketers out there, so I wouldn’t say I missed him… But it doesn’t matter who’s playing against. We as a team have to focus on ourselves,” said Elgar on the eve of the third Test.
“Biggest match in the last 10-15 years”
Known for his rock-solid determination, Elgar took several blows to the body en route to a match-winning 96 in the second Test.
For a team going through transition and embroiled in controversies off the field, a series win against India will be a huge boost.
“This test is possibly the biggest we’ve had in 10 years, maybe even 15 years. And I think that speaks for its own respect. Test cricket will always have intensity, me as a player harboring the intensity too. So I don’t think that it will lack intensity.
“Test cricket still requires quite a high intensity and you have to keep it up for five days. I know it’s not always possible to keep that up for five days. But you have to be pretty consistent with implementing the intensity throughout the whole period.why it’s so important to switch off when you can switch off.
“We saw in the Wanderers when we brought in the intensity it seemed to almost flush the Indians quite a bit. And when that can play to our advantage and it would be foolish of us not to repeat that or even more intensity to the next game,” said Elgar.
Elgar said it would also be the biggest win of his career.
“…That’s part of captaincy leadership, of course. Now that we have a little more influence on our squad. But I think, from a player’s point of view, it would be huge for us. I think we’re working so hard in that the past months.
“We’ve played pretty good cricket so far. We’ve had a lot of things that leave us because you need some momentum and they’re on your side. And we’ve done everything right.
“For us, winning the series 2-1 is huge, beating the world number one, even if it’s in your backyard, it will still mean huge sums to our squad in the Proteas batch,” said Elgar.
‘Pitch lasts five days’
Speaking of the pitch at Newlands, Elgar predicted the match will last five days.
“I’ve seen it from a domestic (match) point of view. Looks a bit different. Yeah, they’ve put in quite a bit of work after that match we had domestically and the condition is actually pretty good. I think it’s the best I’ve seen Newlands in quite some time.
“The conditions actually look very welcoming for us. They are just trying to prepare a good test wicket because I think they clearly want the wicket to deteriorate over time to days four and five.
“That just asks for the basics in regards to the kind of deterioration, wear and tear that the wicket can provide, but it looks like a relatively good cricket ground.”
“If you’re not in a little pain, you’re not working hard enough”
For someone who gives 100 percent on the pitch and is always up for a fight, Elgar confirmed that everyone is fit for selection in their own inimitable style.
“I don’t think there are problems with player fitness… of course there are always problems when you play in a series, especially Test Cricket pushes your body to the limit.
“…And I mean, if you’re not a little bit sore, and if you’re not a little bit bruised, then the bowler’s feet aren’t sore, then they’re clearly not working hard enough,” he added.
He also praised his lead pacer Kagiso Rabada ahead of his 50th Test.
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“Playing 50 tests for your country is huge. When he started he was extremely raw and he had a fast pace and I think he matured during that period. He influenced our group in such a big way, both on and off the field.
“And he’s only 26. From a Test point of view, he’s got so much more cricket (in him).”
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