South African captain Dean Elgar has one likelihood to save lots of himself from essentially the most disappointing Test tour of his profession.
In the Proteas’ first innings of the third and closing Test in opposition to Australia, the opener edged Josh Hazlewood to wicketkeeper Alex Carey on 15 runs and improved his common for the tour from 7.75 to 9.2.
The solely time the opening batter has returned worse figures in a collection than 9.2 was on debut throughout South Africa’s journey to Australia in the summertime of 2012/13. But on that event he performed just one match, going for 2 geese.
Elgar’s highest rating from 5 innings this time round was 26 within the Boxing Day Test and of his 5 dismissals, three have been caught behind by Carey.
Since World War II, solely two captains have returned worse batting averages on a tour of Australia than Elgar has this summer time: West Indies paceman Courtney Walsh in 1996-97 (7.75) and Dinesh Chandimal of Sri Lanka in 2019 (6.00).
Elgar’s next-lowest common for a Test collection is 10.75, posted in a two-match house stand in opposition to Sri Lanka throughout February 2019.
To end the present tour with a better common than that, Elgar will want a rating of 19 or higher within the closing innings.
But the captain possible will not need one other likelihood to enhance his lowly common: With simply over a day to play, South Africa are an infinitesimal likelihood of victory and so as an alternative should play for a draw.
The first step to securing a draw can be avoiding a follow-on by posting greater than 275 runs within the first innings after which stalling for so long as attainable.
Despite Elgar’s struggles with the bat, South Africa have full religion in his credentials as an opener and captain.
Proteas batting coach Justin Sammons stated Elgar might take into account himself a bit unfortunate, given two of his dismissals got here after an umpire’s evaluation.
“It hasn’t quite gone (Elgar’s) way,” Sammons stated at stumps on day three.
“Sometimes you do need things to go your way. It’s a game of fine margins.
“But he is a fighter.
“The tour’s not over for him but.
“He’s making an attempt his greatest. We again him. He’s key to our batting unit.”
