Elgar gleeful as ex-Kolpaks bolster Proteas' England challenge: 'Stupid not to use them'

Dean Elgar has indirectly praised the national selectors for their willingness to recall ex-Kolpak stalwarts for the Proteas Test team.

Indeed, in one of the game's most prominent recent ironies, South Africa have two of their most controversial exponents - Simon Harmer and Duanne Olivier - back in harness for the three-Test series against England starting next week.

Five years ago, when the Proteas last toured the UK, Harmer had just commenced his outstanding stint with Essex while Olivier would follow suit two years later in joining Yorkshire, mere weeks after scalping 24 Pakistani batters in three matches.

With Brexit invalidating those agreements and the duo returning as far more rounded cricketers, it's been relatively easy for the national hierarchy to forgive and move on.

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"Yeah, those options are there for us to use and it's up to us to decide whether we want to use them or not," said Elgar.

"I'm very much inclined to have those players around. They're experienced, accomplished cricketers and have particularly vast experience of county cricket.

"The numbers they've put out over the past few years is quite something (and those skillsets) are definitely something we can use to our advantage. And that's why we need to use them.

"It would be stupid if we don't."

So highly has Elgar rated Harmer and Olivier's input that he even believes they perform a major service just as mere squad players, much like the Springboks' non-playing personnel.

"They don't even have to potentially play. They're just great for the changeroom from an information and knowledge point of view," he said.

However, there would be a very strong case for Harmer's