“We’ve had an extremely successful summer, not just as a Test side but as a cricketing nation,” Elgar said. “I think we are on the right path, doing things in the correct way. I am extremely proud of the Test summer we’ve had and the depth we’ve shown with regards to our selection pool. I am extremely proud of the group of players that we fielded.”
Despite their bowling success, South Africa have acknowledged that their batting has not been up to the standard they would have liked. There were no centuries scored in the five home Tests and only one total over 400 in the season, which is something Elgar wants to see change.
“We need to notch up a few more hundreds,” he said. “Our senior batters, when we get into good positions, we need to get those three figure marks because we know how much pressure that puts on the opposition. We haven’t nailed down those hundreds. That’s the one area of focus we are extremely aware of and we are working bloody hard to get those hundreds. Maybe it’s a case of stop trying too hard and focus on the moment.”
“They came in as leaders in a tough time and they have really gelled together,” Boucher said. “They’ve rubbed off on each other. They are completely different characters but they’ve got one goal, which is to try to get us back to where we should be. They feed off each other, they speak to each other a lot, which is good, and you can see it in their own personal results as well. They’re in good form and leading from the front. We are in good hands with them.”
For Elgar, the Gqeberha Test marked the end of his first home season as captain, which coincided with Covid-19 protocols and restrictions, and off-field drama that continues to hang over the team. Boucher will face a disciplinary hearing in May, with CSA seeking his dismissal over his handling of issues of race, which means his future is uncertain. South Africa could take on their next Test assignment, against England in August, with a different backroom staff and another period of rebuilding.
It’s too early for Elgar to think about what that could mean for the second half of the current WTC and the future but whatever it is, he is ready for it.
“Everything comes with a challenge. I like challenges which is why I am still playing Test cricket at nearly 35,” he said. “I still feel I’ve got a lot of good years left and maybe even my best years left in me. If was younger, I might not have enjoyed it as much. This is still a massive privilege. I’ve enjoyed it so far. The last year has been testing off the field but I’ve got an amazing core of players around me that understand me as a character, as a player and a person and the nature of cricket I want to play going forward. Slowly, everyone has bought into it. We are in a very special place.”