Dean Elgar says losing the Proteas Test captaincy was a “massive setback” for him.
Elgar lost the job following the Proteas’ 2-0 series defeat in Australia in December-January and the appointment of Shukri Conrad as Test coach.
Conrad appointed Temba Bavuma as captain ahead of the home Test series against the West Indies, which the Proteas won 2-0 with Elgar continuing to open the batting.
“It was a massive setback for me, one of the toughest and most challenging periods in my career,” Elgar told Rapport newspaper. “It was unexpected and I was hurt by it.
“What made it difficult is that I experienced the embarrassment of the series defeat in Australia. And just as I was trying to get over that humiliation, I was hit with more earth-shattering news.
“But I knew if I wanted to continue my international career, I had to put that aside and focus on my career as a batsman. I have come to terms with the disappointment.”
Elgar says his relationship with Bavuma also remains strong.
“Temba and I have walked a long way together. Our mutual respect is rock solid. He relies on me when decisions have to be made here and there,” he said.
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However, Elgar’s cricketing future remains uncertain. The 35-year-old, regarded by many as a red-ball specialist, does not play white-ball cricket for the Proteas or in any of the lucrative T20 franchise tournaments around the world.
Elgar is frustrated by the lack of Test cricket on the Proteas schedule from 2023 to 2027.
South Africa will not play Test cricket again until December, when India tour the country for a two-match series, and will have to wait until December 2026 for their next three-Test series, against England.
“We [he and his agent, Weber van Wyk] are looking for an opportunity in English county cricket during the South African winter, but the decision has not yet been made,” Elgar told Rapport.
“The question I ask myself is: Are you prepared to wait so long before you can play for your country again? The current schedule is not conducive to continuing to play for your country.
“I’m only human and the question I ask is: What’s next? After 11 years in international cricket, you still want to be stimulated at this level.”
