He also opened up about the pitch at Newlands for the series-deciding Test against India.
South Africa captain Dean Elgar on Monday (January 10) said that the third and final series-deciding Test against India will be their biggest Test in the "last 10-15 years" and that Virat Kohli’s return will make the battle more intense in Cape Town, starting on Tuesday, January 11.
The South African team has been going through transition and mired in off-field controversies, and if the hosts win the ongoing Test series against India, it will be a massive boost for the side.
Elgar said on the eve of the final Test: “This test is potentially the biggest we’ve had in 10 years, maybe even 15 years. And I think that speaks for its own respect. Test cricket is always going to have intensity, me as a player harboring the intensity as well. So I don’t think it’s going to lack intensity.”
He further explained, “Test cricket still demands quite a high level of intensity and you have to maintain that throughout five days. I know it’s not always possible to maintain that throughout five days. But you have to be pretty consistent with regards to implementing the intensity throughout. That’s why it’s so important to switch off when you can switch off.
We saw in the Wanderers the minute we brought the intensity it seemed to almost flush the Indians quite a lot. And when that can play in our favor and it would be silly for us not to try and replicate that or even bring even more intensity into the next game.”
The Proteas captain also said that his team’s win in the third Test against the world number one Team India would also be the biggest win of his career.
Elgar said: “Obviously that comes with the leadership in captaincy. Now have a bit more influence with regards to our player's group. But I think just from a player’s point of view, it would be massive for us.”
He added, “I think we’ve put in so much hard work the last few months. We’ve been playing actually pretty good cricket up until now. We’ve had a lot of things that go our away because you need some momentum and they’re on your side. And we’ve been doing everything right. For us winning the series 2-1 one is huge, beating the world number one side even though it’s in your back garden, it’s still going to speak massive amounts for our players group going forward in the Proteas batch.”
Meanwhile, Kohli missed the second Test at the Wanderers and Elgar said he didn’t miss the Indian skipper while hailing the dashing right-hander’s stature and captaincy.
On Kohli’s return for the series-decider Test, Elgar said: “Virat brings a different dynamic to the game. I don’t think I missed him. But I think potentially his team missed him, no doubt just from a captaincy point of view and maybe from a strategy point of view.”
The South Africa opener added, “He is a world-class player and very experienced within their squad. His name speaks for itself and it’s one of the more respected cricketers around so I wouldn’t say I missed him… But it doesn’t matter who are playing against. We as a team, need to focus on us.”
Speaking about the pitch at Newlands, Elgar noted: “I’ve seen it from a domestic (match) point of view. Looks a little bit different. Yeah, they’ve done quite a lot of work after that game we had domestically and the condition is actually pretty good. I think it’s the best I’ve seen Newlands in quite some time.”
The Proteas skipper added, “The conditions look actually quite welcoming for us. They’re just trying to prepare a good Test wicket because I think they obviously want the wicket to deteriorate over time into days four and five. That just calls on basics with regards to the kind of deterioration, wear and tear that the wicket can offer but it does look like a relatively good cricket pitch.”
Elgar also confirmed that everyone is fit for selection for the final battle against India.
He added, “I don’t think there are any hiccups with regards to the fitness of players… obviously, there’s always niggles when you play in a series, especially Test cricket pushes your body to the limit. And I mean if you’re not a little bit sore, and if you’re not a little bit bruised, then the bowlers’ feet are not sore then obviously they’re not working hard enough.”
Elgar also lauded his star pacer Kagiso Rabada ahead of his 50th Test in Cape Town.
He signed off by saying, “Playing 50 Tests for your country is massive. When he started he was extremely raw and he had express pace and I think he’s come of age in that period of time. He’s influenced our group in such a big way on and off the field. And he is only 26. He’s still got so much more cricket (in him) from a Test point of view.”
(With PTI Inputs)