South Africa’s team selection for the New Zealand tour later this month has caused a lot of controversy. The move came after the majority of the South African players are set to be busy with SA20 league.
Uncapped player Neil Brand has been named the new skipper with many new faces set to travel to New Zealand. Stand-in South African skipper Dean Elgar was disgusted with the team chosen and minced no words about it.
Indian bowlers meanwhile showed their class as they dismissed the home team for 55 runs. Mohammed Siraj picked 6/15 which is his best figures in Test Cricket. Bumrah and Mukesh Kumar picked two-wickets each as the hosts were all out before Lunch.
Dean Elgar slams South African Selection Committee –
As he was set to play to his final Test as the skipper for his country Dean Elgar was in the midst of all the attention. The veteran opener scored 185 runs in the first Test in Centurion to help his side win the game inside three days.
The question turned to South Africa’s team for the New Zealand tour and Dean Elgar wasn’t impressed. “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:
Stressing his point the veteran batter also said “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”
Dean Elgar also implored the Cricket Board to keep the interests of Test cricket alive. “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,
Finally speaking about his decision to retire, Dean Elgar said “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,”
