Dean Elgar excited by new challenge at the top

Castle Lager Proteas batsman Dean Elgar says he is looking forward to the “new challenge” of opening the batting on South African soil in the upcoming Sunfoil Test Series against the West Indies. Elgar has only opened the innings in South Africa once before (against Australia in Port Elizabeth), but has been a permanent feature at the top following Graeme Smith’s retirement earlier this year.

“I echo what Graeme (Smith) said,” he said of South Africa being the toughest country to bat in as an opener. “I have done it for eight years in first-class cricket in South Africa, so maybe in that sense I am a little bit more accustomed to opening the batting,” he admitted.

“ I have gotten used to conditions here; I played a few four-day matches at SuperSport Park so I’m not in the dark coming into the Test. I know what is expected from the wicket, and luckily I have had some success in the first-class format here as well.”

Elgar says the batsmen will show the West Indies’ bowlers due respect, in what he anticipates will be an “exciting“ series.

“I know Jerome Taylor, he has been around for a while and has been in and out of the team,” he said. “A guy like Kemar Roach, I played against him at u.19 level, and he seems to be bowling at the same speed. They are a dangerous team, they can fire on the day but so can we.”

Meanwhile, spinner Robin Peterson says he will have to “adapt accordingly” to the traditionally seam-friendly conditions if he is selected to play.

“In the past it probably hasn’t, but one thing it probably does is offer bounce,“ he said of SuperSport Park assistance to spinners. “It’s always been a wicket where seamers tend to dominate and I’m probably going to have to see how the wicket plays and adapt my role accordingly if I’m presented with the opportunity.“