Elgar backs Markram to fight for his spot: 'He is still too talented not to play Tests'

South Africa's batting came under massive scrutiny after a horrid performance saw them lose the three-match Test series 2-1 against England.

The Proteas faced just 92.4 overs in the third Test, with skipper Dean Elgar's 36 their highest SA score at the Oval. England needed only 130 runs and sealed a nine-wicket victory on Monday.

In the series overall with the bat, all-rounder Marco Jansen, one of the few shining lights for the tourists, averaged the highest with 27.33, while opener Sarel Erwee finished as the fifth highest run-scorer with 127 runs - scoring SA's only Test half-century in England.

In the final Test at the Oval, South Africa was forced to replace Rassie van der Dussen, who suffered a finger injury in the second Test, dropped the out-of-form Aiden Markram and instead gave Ryan Rickelton and Khaya Zondo an opportunity.

READ | Elgar says 'lack of experience' led to Proteas' Test series defeat in England

Elgar, who managed only 107 runs in the three Tests, insists that it was tough conditions to bat in and that the Proteas had to use the resources they had as their batters flopped in England.

"It was unfortunate that Rassie got injured, I'd like to think he still would've had a crack in this Test," Elgar told reporters on Monday.

"It's a tough one when the guys aren't getting numbers on the board for you and you still have a fighting spirit. Sooner or later, your resources are going to be depleted and we're going to have to look elsewhere.

"In this Test match, we had to use the resources that we had, something different, something new. Maybe they smash an eighty or hundred, you never know if you don't give them a try."

Markram was dropped after the first two Tests after scoring only 36 runs but hasn't scored a Test