Elgar admits 'tough decisions' await before final Test: 'We'll try to get better combinations'

Proteas captain Dean Elgar said a few hard decisions will have to be made from a selection perspective for the third Test against England at the Oval next month.

One of them will be Rassie van der Dussen's replacement, with the doughty middle-order batter forced to miss that engagement with a broken finger.

One of those tough choices may also revolve around Aiden Markram, whose form in red ball cricket has shown little improvement.

Markram was ostensibly given the heads-up at number four as Temba Bavuma's injury-enforced replacement, but his low scores in both digs of the innings and 85-run loss to England in the second Test on Saturday have done him no favours.

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Elgar said runs will be demanded of the middle-order in next month's series decider that starts on 8 September.

"A few tough decisions will be coming and with Rassie being ruled out with the finger injury, we'll have to replace him," Elgar said.

"Whether that's the only change that we'll make, we'll have to see. We've got time before the next Test, so we'll go away and get our options in a line.

"We'll try to get better combinations, but the bottom line is that we need runs from that middle order and that's the truth.

"As much as guys don't want to hear it, they know that already, but Rassie's position must be filled."

Elgar said he still has to process his decision-making that played a role in SA's loss in the second Test.

Elgar won the toss under cloudy skies and chose to bat on Thursday, a decision that backfired on him as the Proteas were bowled out for 151.

That gave England enough breathing room to negotiate top and middle-order stutters to post what became an