Bavuma backs Elgar's toss calls despite Test loss: 'They can go either way'

Proteas limited-overs skipper and Test vice-captain Temba Bavuma spared a thought for his leader Dean Elgar, saying toss decisions can and will go either way.

Elgar, whose toss luck has improved significantly since the New Zealand series, has won both tosses in the Test series against England.

He not only called correctly in the first Test at Lord's, but chose to bowl first - a decision that reaped rich dividends and a series lead.

Elgar then called correctly against at Old Trafford, but his decision to bat first, one that he said was driven by expected deterioration in the pitch, backfired in the form of an innings defeat.

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That's left the series tantalisingly poised at 1-1 ahead of next week's Test at the Oval in London.

Bavuma said it's always wiser to look at the reasons and selections behind toss decisions, but admitted that making toss choices are never easy.

"It is a thin line and that's something you need to accept as a captain," Bavuma said.

"People always look at the result and not necessarily the logic or the reasoning behind the decision that you've made. Listening to Dean and his reasoning, you kind of understand why, especially with the composition of the team.

"The first day conditions were tough for batting and I suspect he was thinking that they just needed to get past the first morning, from where the clouds lift and make batting easy.

"Being a cricket captain isn't easy because the decision you make can and will influence the outcome of a game.

"You have to accept it for what it is."

The role reversals in the batting malfunctions for both teams in the Test were stark. England was duffed in three days