Dean Elgar could retire from Test cricket after the Proteas’ two-match series against India.
According to Rapport newspaper, the 36-year-old believes he is not part of Test coach Shukri Conrad’s long-term plans.
Elgar is the top run-scorer in this season’s 4-Day Domestic Series, with 402 in six innings for the Titans at an average of 80.40.
The experienced Elgar was expected to lead a severely depleted Proteas team (without its SA20 players) in a two-Test series in New Zealand in February. But several recent discussions between the Elgar camp and CSA did not go as well as Elgar would have liked.
“Just expect the news [of his retirement] to break soon,” a source told Rapport.
According to Rapport‘s information, Conrad is considering selecting SA A captain Neil Brand as an opening batsman against New Zealand. If Elgar does retire after the India series, Tony de Zorzi would likely be Brand’s partner at the top of the order.
When asked by Rapport, Conrad – who replaced Elgar with Temba Bavuma as Proteas Test captain in February – said he knew nothing about Elgar’s possible retirement plans and strongly denied rumours that their relationship had soured.
