“Playing the game of cricket has always been a dream of mine but having the opportunity to represent your country is the ultimate,” Elgar said in a statement. “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.” Elgar will end his 11-year international career at the end of the Test series at home against India. Elgar is scheduled to play his penultimate Test at his home ground at the Centurion.
The southpaw made his Test and ODI debut in 2012, but it was in the longest format that Elgar excelled. He has amassed 5146 runs in 84 Tests so far, including 13 centuries and 23 fifties. Among his finest hours in Test cricket is the 199 he scored against Bangladesh, in Potchefstroom in 2017.
“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. A game that has given me so much.”
Elgar was instrumental in South Africa’s 3-1 series victory against Australia at home in 2018. He amassed 333 runs in three matches, including 141* off the bat in the third Test in Cape Town, which saw the Proteas win the series 3-1.
Elgar’s bat skills earned him the captaincy of the Test team in 2021, and from that cycle, South Africa finished third in the ICC World Test Championship. Series victories at home against West Indies and India were followed by a drawn-away series in New Zealand.
Elgar said, “I want to take the opportunity to thank Cricket South Africa for investing in me from an early age and giving me the honor of representing my country. I am truly grateful for the opportunities I have received since U18 to date.
It is been the best learning experience of my life. I will always be thankful for the opportunity to represent my country and the learnings I have had along my journey.” The first Test is scheduled to start at the Centurion on Boxing Day, while the second Test is scheduled to start in Capetown on January 3.
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