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Test cricket has been a much-talked-about format in recent weeks. This has been due to the SA20 getting much attention and of course the BBL.

In the case of South Africa’s T20 tournament, that was getting attention (not so much good attention), due to the test team The Proteas named in the second test.

Sports fans, South Africa is a team that’s in transition in general anyway. The need for them to look at new players is now more prevalent after Dean Elgar had already announced he’s retiring from tests.

Elgar was of course a former captain of The Proteas and for a sustained period superbly opened the batting for his country.

The man might not have been like say David Warner, who after the conclusion of their test series against Pakistan will also be retiring, but the man could battle.

With the introduction of new formats every week (exaggeration of course), the core principle of batting in international cricket has been lost.
Batting at any level of cricket, one needs to earn the right to score runs and be prepared for the battle that can ensue when batting.

The shorter formats have diluted this message. With players like Jason Roy and Alex Hales being given the chance to open the batting is what I was referring to.

Why they have had a period as opening the batting in test cricket, has arguably been due to the success of Australian Warner.

Australian World Cup winner has been striking at 70 in the longer formats, that’s unheard of. Australia will have a real challenge replacing that kind of aggression.

For that reason, David Warner needs to be given the respect he deserves. But let’s not forget Elgar, I say this because many batsmen try and fail to replicate Warner, and they understate the prowess Elgar possesses.

A career average of just under 40 is respectable (38.4) and this has been in several sides that were getting chopped and changed.

The stats might not say it or show it, but Dean Elgar is of a dying breed of test batsmen, a batsman that puts a price on his wicket.

West Indian skipper Kraigg Brathwaite is another who can really put value on his wicket. David Warner and Elgar will be missed for varied reasons but will be missed all the same.

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