Gutsy Dean Elgar to bat in South Africa’s second innings with injured finger

Elgar dislocated the little finger of his right hand while taking a diving catch in the last session on Day 3.

Elgar suffered the injury while taking a diving catch in the covers to dismiss Mitchell Starc | AP

Proteas opener Dean Elgar will start the proceeding for his team on Day 4 of the ongoing Test match against Australia in Durban despite the sore on his little finger. In an unfortunate turn of event, the southpaw dislocated the little finger of his right hand while taking a diving catch in the covers to dismiss Mitchell Starc.

The incident took place during the final session of play on Day 3. Elgar was in so much pain that he had to leave the field to take some immediate medical treatment. Fortunately for him, the bad light came as a blessing in disguise. Elgar didn’t have to come out to bat in the last session as the players were being taken off by the umpires with 19 overs remaining in the day.

Addressing the media conference after the premature conclusion of third day’s play, South Africa’s assistant coach Malibongwe Maketa confirmed that Elgar will definitely take the field on Day 4.

“Dean is a tough cookie. He was really keen to go back out there and to bat. There’s no concern about him. It was dislocated. It’s fine now,” Malibongwe Maketa told reporters.

Pretty much like his batting, Elgar is known for his gritty character. During the recently held Test series against India, he was in the helmet by a vicious bouncer from India speedster Jasprit Bumrah at Wanderers.

Dean Elgar may have been shaken up that Bumrah bouncer for a brief period but he came out next day and showed the world what he is made up of. The 30-year-old Elgar carried the bat with an unbeaten 86 as South Africa got bowled out for 177 runs in the fourth innings to concede the Johannesburg Test by 63 runs.

As far as the ongoing Durban Test is concerned – Australia are placed in a very strong position. The visitors are currently on 213/9 in their second innings, having already taken a first innings lead of 189 runs. With the exception of AB de Villiers, South African batting didn’t look at ease in the first innings in front of the fiery Aussie pace attack.

While de Villiers scored a magnificent 71* in the first dig, the rest of the team managed to amass only 71 runs. Mitchell Starc was the pick of the bowler for Australia with the figures of 5 for 34, his ninth five-wicket haul in Test cricket.   

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 04 Mar, 2018

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