Dean Elgar on decline of Test cricket in South Africa: ‘It’s sad that it’s gone in that direction’

South Africa’s stand-in skipper Dean Elgar says he is “sad” with the fact that Cricket South Africa (CSA) is sending a third string squad to the New Zealand for the Test matches.

The situation we’ve been put in is not ideal,” Elgar told reporters, on the eve of the second Test against India at Newlands.

“What happens behind the scenes is totally out of our control. It’s out of our hands, the coaches’ hands, the team management’s hands,” said the 36-year-old.

“It’s sad that it’s gone in that direction. As players we don’t have control over that, we have to focus on what we can focus on.”

Elgar, who will be playing his last Test match for the South Africa says it is up to cricket’s administrators “to make the right decisions for players and the longevity of Test format.

“It’s up to players to go out and win and show the hunger for this format. As long as I’m around I’m going to be a Test fanatic and I think a lot of our guys are Test fanatics.”

Elgar also insisted that it is a good chance for the youngsters to grab this opportunity and cement their place.

“We can fight and promote the format as much as you can but it’s up to the guys who count the beans.

“Hopefully there will be a bit of sanity in the decisions for our players going forward,” he said.

Elgar, who has been vocal about South Africa playing fewer Test matches criticised Proetas limited Test schedule. South Africa will play two-match series until the 2026-27 season when they play three matches against both Australia and England.

“It would be sad going forward for us just to play with two Test matches in a series, to me it’s not the best way for guys to learn about the format,” he said.

CSA on Tuesday has issued a statement on South Africa squad for the New Zealand tour.

“We reassure the fans that CSA has the utmost respect for the Test format as the pinnacle of the game we love,” the CSA said in a statement.

“Once it became apparent that there would be a clash, we made every effort to find another mutually suitable time slot for the two-Test series in consultation with New Zealand Cricket.

“Regrettably the constraints imposed by the global cricket calendar rendered this impossible.”

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