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CAPE TOWN : South Africa captain Dean Elgar won the toss and elected to bat first in the second and final test against India amid glorious sunshine at Newlands on Wednesday as the hosts seek a series sweep against the top ranked side in the world.
With nothing to lose on the eve of his final international outing, Dean Elgar didn't hold back while expressing his disgust about Cricket South Africa sending a third-string squad to New Zealand under an uncapped captain just because the series is coinciding with the cash-rich SA20. It is a situation the 36-year-old Elgar, the stand-in captain for the second, and final, Test against India at Newlands, termed as "not ideal." "I still think Test cricket will have a future and in speaking to the younger guys in the dressing room, they still live for the format," Elgar said on Tuesday during his last pre-match conference. "The situation we've been put in from a cricketing fraternity perspective isn't ideal and maybe the team that's selected to go to New Zealand isn't ideal for the conversation of how I see Test cricket," Elgar was straightforward in his observations.
South Africa stand-in captain Dean Elgar won the toss and opted to bat against India in the second Test in Cape Town on Wednesday. Elgar, who slammed 185 in the first Test as South Africa defeated India by an innings and 32, runs, will retire from international cricket after the match at the Newlands. The Proteas made three changes with wicketkeeper-batter Tristan Stubbs making his Test debut. Lungi Ngidi and Keshav Maharaj have also been included in the playing XI while Bavuma, Keegan Petersen and Gerald Coetzee miss out. India also made a couple of alterations from the side which was humbled by Proteas on Boxing-Day week.
Legendary Indian cricket team batter Krishnamachari Srikkanth believes that Shubman Gill needs to start scoring runs consistently away from home in order to justify the fanfare around him. Gill has been exceptional for India in white-ball cricket but his numbers in Tests outside India has not been that prolific. Srikkanth pointed out that it is unfair to expect numbers similar to star batter Virat Kohli but added that Gill needs to work towards replicating such numbers and prove himself to be a valuable asset.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma feels that it is each and every ICC member's duty to protect the sanctity of Test cricket as it remains the ultimate format. Cricket South Africa selected seven uncapped players, including an inexperienced first timer Neil Brand, for the upcoming tour of New Zealand to accommodate top stars for the cash-rich SA20, which is coinciding with the Test series. All the SA20 franchises are owned by IPL team owners and the move to prioritize franchise cricket has earned widespread criticism. “For me, Test remains ultimate challenge and we would like to see best players playing that format but everyone has own problems to deal with and make sure there is a reason behind it,” Rohit reacted when asked about the CSA move.
Rohit Sharma will be looking to become just the second Indian cricket team skipper ever after MS Dhoni to draw a Test series in South Africa as the two teams face each other on Wednesday. India's hopes of winning a maiden Test series in South Africa were dashed after a humiliating defeat in the first Test. However, a win in the second Test will mean that Rohit will be able to achieve a feat that has happened just once in the last eight occasions. Under Dhoni's captaincy, the Test series between India and South Africa in 2010-11 ended 1-1 between the two sides. Besides 2010-11, India ended up losing the Test series in 1992-93, 1996-97, 2001-02, 2006-07, 2013, 2018, and 2021-22.
India vs South Africa 2nd Test Day 1, Cape Town Weather Report: Will Rain Play Spolisport?
David Bedingham was around 21 and full of promise, having already started playing First-Class cricket. But a horrifying car accident almost curtailed the South African's budding journey as he was out of action for a year. Bedingham, however, made a strong-willed comeback to become a Western Province bulwark and also plied his trade for Durham in English county making more than 6000 runs in 89 games before making an impressive Test debut against India at Centurion last week. Now, Bedingham is in a singular space, playing his first Test at Newlands, his home ground.