South Africa announce Dean Elgar’s replacement for Test captaincy

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has named the player who will take over the Test captaincy duty from Dean Elgar.

The left-handed batter, who was appointed Test captain in mid-2021 and won his first four series, including a home leg against India, was sacked as skipper on Friday (February 17).

CSA described the decision as “part of a restructure within the leadership group of the national team”.

Chief selector Victor Mpitsang was another casualty of the shake-up, with the board stating that he has been released from the role.

So now, Temba Bavuma will captain South Africa’s Test team in the post Mark Boucher era.

“Temba is a player that has vast captaincy experience both at domestic level and on the international stage,” Enoch Nkwe, CSA’s Director of Cricket, said in his official statement.

“We trust he will deliver on all our expectations and help carry the team forward after some excellent work by his predecessor Dean during the same period.”

Nkwe added: “At the same time, I would like to sincerely thank Dean for all his commitment to the role over the past two years. He helped the team navigate through some stormy waters and put them in good position on the ICC World Test Championship table.

“Both men have made us proud with the work they have done within the wider Proteas group and look forward to the next step in what is a new era for the Proteas under the leadership of dual coaches Shukri Conrad and Rob Walter.”

According to CSA, Bavuma will also remain captain of the ODI team but will relinquish his role in the T20I side.