Former South African captain Dean Elgar announces retirement from International cricket on 22 December, 2023. He said that he announced his decision to retire from international cricket after the second match of India’s tour of South Africa.
Dean Elgar announces retirement from international cricket
Elgar has played 84 Tests so far since his debut in 2012 and amassed 5146 runs at 37.28 with 13 centuries and 23 fifties. He revealed that his last match will be the second test match against India on the home tour.
South Africa is scheduled to play in three T20Is, three ODIs, and Two Test series where the T20I series concluded with a draw and India won the ODI series 2-1.
With four days before the test series, the South African cricketer has opened on his retirement plans in the media.
“Having had the privilege to do it for 12 years internationally is simply beyond my wildest dreams. It has been an incredible journey that I have been fortunate enough to have,” said Elgar.
“As they say, ‘all good things come to an end’, and the Indian home series will be my last, as I have made the decision to retire from our beautiful game,” he said.
“A game that has given me so much. The Cape Town Test will be my last. My favorite stadium in the world. A place I scored my first Test run against New Zealand and hopefully my last too,” he added.
Cricket South Africa responded to the player’s retirement announced saying, “Elgar will fittingly end his international career with the two Test matches — the first to be played at his home ground in Centurion from 26–30 December and the second at the venue where he scored his first Test runs, Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town, from 03–07 January.”
The CSA director Enoch Nkwe said, “He is a real old-school cricketer that can dig in, absorb and fight. I have no doubt the game will dearly miss him.
“He has always given everything for his country and never showed any fear, no matter the opposition. He was always there to take on the challenge, leading as captain when the country needed him most,” Nkwe added.
It is clear that Elgar was unhappy with the decision to retire, but recognizing that he will be having limited opportunity in the 2023-25 WTC cycle, he felt that he wanted to complete his career with a high profile at home.
India and South Africa will face off each other in the first test starting on December 26 at SuperSport Park.
