Proteas opening batsman Dean Elgar is gearing up for an electrifying and fiercely contested Test series as South Africa faces off against Australia in an epic four-match showdown commencing Thursday, 1 March in Durban.
This blockbuster series marks the grand finale to a lengthy and challenging summer of cricket for the Proteas and stands as a crucial test for the world’s second-ranked Test team.
Victory in this series for the home side would cement their position at number two on the Test rankings when the cut-off date arrives on 3 April. More significantly, it would be a historic first – a South African triumph over Australia in a home series.
Expressing his excitement to the press on Tuesday, Elgar shared, “We are absolutely pumped for this upcoming Test series with Australia. Every clash with them is a battle, whether it’s on home soil or away.”
“Having four Tests instead of the usual three is fantastic, giving us a proper chance to prove our mettle. The boys are raring to go this Thursday.”
“When South Africa contests Australia, it’s about pride and passion. While there’s fierce competition, there’s also mutual respect between the two sides,” Elgar added.
“The game is about battling it out — pit bat against ball, endurance versus power. That’s what fans crave, and I’m certain this series is going to be a cracker, with crowd excitement buzzing.”
Both teams bring differing forms and confidence levels to the series. Australia arrives undefeated in South Africa and fresh off a 4-0 Ashes series rout over England. Meanwhile, the Proteas have an enviable history, winning three consecutive series Down Under and recently securing a 2-1 victory against the world’s top-ranked India.
Elgar remains encouraged by the Proteas’ recent successes yet stresses the new series resets the scoreboard to a thrilling 0-0 deadlock.
“Our win against Australia back in 2016 still brings a smile. Beating them in their backyard is a powerful confidence boost,” Elgar reflected.
“That said, each series is a fresh chapter. Starting Thursday, it’s anyone’s game to win.”
“Both teams boast strong records in the past couple of years, making this series one not to miss,” he concluded.
© TEAMtalk Media