Elgar at peace with IPL absentees, reckons replacements up for Bangladesh Test task

Proteas Test skipper Dean Elgar has made peace with the absence of his Indian Premier League group of players and said the players at his disposal are more than capable of holding the fort while they're gone.

Elgar will be without pacers Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi, while batters Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram are also in India.

That means national convenor of selectors Victor Mpitsang and Proteas coach Mark Boucher will have to find other means to combat a buoyant Bangladesh side in the Test series that starts at Kingsmead in Durban on Thursday.

The 15th edition of the IPL that has also seen the inclusion of two new teams, started on Saturday and will run until 29 May.

It's a change of tack and tone from Elgar, who on his arrival from their 1-1 Test series draw against New Zealand, said it was going to be a case of loyalties being tested from a Test or IPL choice perspective.

"I'm pretty comfortable with the players that aren't here and I had some really good and detailed chats with those players to find out where they are mentally," Elgar said.

"I'm comfortable with the answers they have given me. Be that as it may, they’re not here, so we have to make do without them and the next best that we have in the country.

"I'm still very confident with them and while we've lost a few Test caps and not having those IPL players  here, it's a great opportunity for the new guys to stand up and put the other players under pressure.

"I'm pretty confident that they can do that."

Test cricket in South Africa may be far removed from ODI cricket, but what Bangladesh does have in oodles is confidence after their successful white-ball ambush of the hosts last week.

Elgar was on duty with the Titans during the 2-1 ODI