MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

Elgar Ready For First Test Against Australia

By

BRISBANE: Proteas captain Dean Elgar has described the opportunity to play in Australia as ‘surreal’ and a ‘privilege’ as the first Test at The Gabba in Brisbane looms.

The two teams begin their three-match series on Saturday with the visitors hoping to build on their outstanding red-ball record Down Under where they have won their last three series.

Addressing the media at his pre-match briefing on Friday, skipper Elgar spoke about the significance of the series and what was needed to overhaul the Australians in their own country.

“(It takes) a lot of courage (to win in Australia),” he said. “You have to have the mindset of playing to win. It’s kind of something that I’ve been speaking at length about within our group, within our squad.

“Australia’s a really tough place to play cricket but it’s also such a rewarding place to play if you can get things right. You’ve got to take your opportunities and that kind of ties in with general Test cricket around the world.

“Playing Test cricket in Australia is such a privilege and you’ve got to go beyond what you’re used to. You have to actually savour the moment, it’s massive, and the legacy and history with South African cricket and Australian cricket is so rich. And we’re just another talented group that can achieve something great in the future.”

South Africa have little experience playing at the famous Gabba – the only time they played there post-isolation was in 2012 when they drew with the hosts. That inexperience there is a good thing, according to Elgar.

“I must say we don’t have any dirty laundry when it comes to playing at the Gabba because we haven’t played here yet,” he explained. “So as a group we’re pretty fresh and pretty unique to the surroundings. The history here is obviously not in our favor and that’s okay.

“We have a young group and also an experienced group, so I think the fact that we haven’t had any failures here, it might work in our favor. So we’re looking forward to the opportunity, it’s almost like a surreal moment for us. We’ve been here for two weeks; we’ve been waiting a bit for this moment and we’re looking forward to getting going.”

The Proteas batting has come under scrutiny in the recent past after they experienced a difficult time playing in tough conditions in England earlier in the year. Elgar admitted it was time for the batters to put up their hands up with strong performances in the series.

“I think all the batters have to stand up,” he added. “It’s been a bit of a talking point that’s surrounded our batting unit of late. Again I’ve never shied away from it and it’s time for the boys to rise up. It’s time for myself personally to really put my hand up and make a massive call and make a massive play for us.

“In saying that we have a really talented group, they’re just a little bit inexperienced when it comes to Test cricket. But that’s okay. They don’t have a lot of baggage again coming into this series. They’re massively talented and they just need to take advantage of the opportunities that come their way,” concluded Elgar.

Proteas Test squad against Australia

Dean Elgar (captain, Momentum Multiply Titans), Temba Bavuma (DP World Lions), Gerald Coetzee (ITEC Knights), Theunis de Bruyn (Momentum Multiply Titans), Sarel Erwee (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Simon Harmer (Momentum Multiply Titans), Marco Jansen (Dafabet Warriors), Heinrich Klaasen (Momentum Multiply Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Anrich Nortje (Dafabet Warriors), Kagiso Rabada (DP World Lions), Rassie van der Dussen (DP World Lions), Kyle Verreynne (wicketkeeper, Six Gun Grill Western Province), Lizaad Williams (Momentum Multiply Titans), Khaya Zondo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins).

South Africa Test Tour to Australia Itinerary

Four-day Tour Match

09 – 12 December

Cricket Australia XI drew with South Africa – The Allan Border Field, Brisbane

 

Tests

17 – 21 December

Australia vs South Africa – The Gabba, Brisbane

 

26 – 30 December

Australia vs South Africa – MCG, Melbourne

 

04 – 08 January

Australia vs South Africa – SCG, Sydney

Cricket came to South Africa during the Napoleonic Wars and with the British forces occupying South Africa. The first match recorded was in 1808 in Cape Town between two service teams, for a prize of one thousand rix-dollars.

The oldest cricket club in South Africa is the Port Elizabeth Cricket Club, founded in 1843. Few clubs in the world can boast such a long existence. The first championship was held in Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha) in 1876 for the “champion bat.” Competing teams were Cape Town, Grahamstown, King Williams Town, and Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha). It was won by King Williams Town and the year after that too.

Submit your sporting news for free here: MyPR.co.za.

Go On – Share the Gqeberha Love!

Views Since 15 July 2022: 67

Gqeberha’s Latest News and Events can be accessed on MyGqeberha.com.

The following two tabs change content below.
My Twitter profileMy Facebook profileMy Google+ profileMy LinkedIn profileMy Flickr profileMy Pinterest profile

Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.