Dean Elgar saddened by decline of Test cricket in South Africa

Listen to Story Dean Elgar did not mince his words in questioning Cricket South Africa's move to send a less experienced team for the Test tour of New Zealand under an uncapped captain. This decision was made due to the clash with the lucrative SA20 tournament. Elgar, serving as the stand in captain for the final Test against India at Newlands, described the situation as "far from ideal." "I still think Test cricket will have a future and in speaking to the younger guys in the dressing room, they still live for the format," Elgar said on Tuesday during his last pre match conference.

"The situation we've been put in from a cricketing fraternity perspective isn't ideal and maybe the team that's selected to go to New Zealand isn't ideal for the conversation of how I see Test cricket," Elgar added. As Cricket South Africa (CSA) prioritised the SA20, whose franchises are run by IPL team investors, against a strong New Zealand side with seven uncapped players and none with more than ten Tests.

The decision was made to maintain CSA's financial health. While it is an opportunity for new players, Elgar stated that administrators must decide the course for the traditional format in this day and age. "It must be seen in that light as we can't control what happens behind the scenes.

It is out of the players, coaches and team management's hands. We need to focus on what we can focus on and the guys going to New Zealand need to focus on that," Elgar further said. Elgar, on the other hand, stated that his decision to retire after the India series was a long and deliberate one.

"I made my decision long ago. It was a couple of months back that I decided for this to be my last series. Regardless of what happened behind the scenes, I had already made my bed and I'm sleeping in it quite nicely. The future is in the hands of the administrators in terms of making the right decisions for players and the longevity of our Test format and our Test team," he put the ball in CSA's court.

Elgar will continue to follow Test cricket as long as he is in the system. "A lot of people have a lot to say about our Test cricket from a negative perspective. Us as players, we need to go out there and win, show hunger for this format. As long as I am around, I will remain a Test fanatic. A lot of our guys are Test fanatics, but we need opportunities to come our way, otherwise, the conversations are going to be continuous.

It's up to the powers that be to make the right calls and I want to see the guys experience what I experienced in the past 12 years.".