Stand-in skipper Dean Elgar on Thursday, January 10 said that he has sent out a "blunt message" to every South African player ahead of the third and final Test of the series against Pakistan. 

"I spoke to the team yesterday and I told them that any complacency needs to be ironed out," Elgar was quoted saying before the Johannesburg Test kickstarting on Friday, January 11, as Proteas look desperate to continue the good work and finish off with a 3-0 series whitewash after dominating victories in Centurion and Cape Town. 

Elgar, who last captained at this level when Faf du Plessis missed the Lord's Test in 2017 and flew back home to be present for birth of his first child, confessed that he found that overall experience "chaotic" to say the least and continued, "It was the start of a very big series with all the hype and media commitments, so I wasn’t really able to enjoy it."

"This time we’ve got the series in the bag and although it’s still a massive goal to win 3-0 there is a little less stress. I’m hoping to enjoy this experience."

The final Test also presents "a massive opportunity" for the rainbow nation to move up the ladder and finish second place in the latest ICC Test rankings. Behind only to India, which solidified its position at the top with a maiden Test series win in Australia this week. 

The left-hand opening batsman also intimated that batting partner Aiden Markram is "pretty sure" to feature in the playing XI after having gone through a fitness test ahead of the match. 

Elgar further informed that the hosts are most probably going to take the field with an all-pace attack and he expects the pitch to favour his team's strengths. 

"It looks a good wicket and hopefully it will have pace and bounce. I will have to bowl a few overs(for the variety and over-rate situation since Du Plessis has been suspended for the same) and Aiden (Markram) may have to bowl a few overs too," he concluded. 

(Inputs from AFP)