South African captain Dean Elgar is embracing the darker facet of the Proteas’ rivalry with Australia because the vacationers look to complete a disappointing Test sequence on a excessive.
Australia and South Africa got here into the three-Test sequence as the primary and second-ranked Test groups on the planet however the Proteas’ underwhelming batting consigned them to 2 losses throughout a mixed whole of solely six days of cricket.
In the ICC’s final replace of the rankings, South Africa slipped to fourth as Australia claimed their first residence sequence win in opposition to the Proteas for the reason that summer time of 2008/09.
Despite the lopsided outcomes, the fervour of the perimeters’ rivalry has not waned forward of the third Test on the SCG, beginning on Wednesday.
Highlights have included Elgar calling the inexperienced Gabba pitch harmful, Mitch Starc threatening to Mankad batter Theunis de Bruyn and ex-captain Tim Paine accusing South Africa of ball-tampering within the final sequence earlier than they’d even touched down in Australia.
The sequence marked the nations’ first assembly since that controversial 2018 sequence, when Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft had been discovered to have used sandpaper on the ball within the Cape Town Test to generate reverse swing.
The memorable sequence additionally featured Smith’s bodily confrontation with paceman Kagiso Rabada and taunting from native Proteas followers about David Warner’s spouse Candice.
Speaking throughout Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s reception for each groups at Kirribilli House, Elgar reminisced in regards to the fiery rivalry.
“This is my third series here against Australia and there are a lot of familiar faces,” Elgar mentioned.
“The rivalry between us has always been something that stands out in my career. I’m pretty sure it stands out in the rest of our players’ careers.”
Elgar mentioned when it got here to rivalries, South Africa would take the great with the dangerous.
“Hopefully that rivalry can continue for many more decades to come,” he mentioned.
“There have obviously been a lot of bad things happen in the past but that’s all part of Test cricket.
“The love and the fervour that we’ve for one another is one thing that basically stands out.”
