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Cricket

Proteas and West Indies prepare for Sunfoil test series

───   09:35 Mon, 15 Dec 2014

Proteas and West Indies prepare for  Sunfoil test series | News Article
Castle Lager Proteas and West Indies will have training session tomorrow in preparing them for the three match Sunfoil Test series starting on Wednesday.
 
Protea batsman, Dean Elgar says he is looking forward to the “new challenge” of opening the batting on South African soil in the upcoming Sunfoil Test Series against the West Indies on Wednesday in Centurion.
 
Elgar has only opened the innings in South Africa once before against Australia in Port Elizabeth), but has been a permanent feature at the top following Graeme Smith’s retirement earlier this year.
 
 Ahead of the first home Test series without the retired Graeme Smith, new Proteas opener Dean Elgar says he is eager to entrench himself in the side.

The hosts take on West Indies in the first Test starting in Centurion on Wednesday, and with 12 matches in the format to his name Elgar said he would be up for the contest.

"I have done it [open the batting] for eight years, in first-class cricket in SA," said Elgar on Sunday.

"So maybe I'm a bit more accustomed to opening the batting and used to the conditions."

Elgar began his Test career for the Proteas batting at number six in disastrous fashion with a pair against Australia in Perth in November 2012.

The 27-year-old has since scored two tons and a pair of half-centuries for an average of 31.52 in Tests.

Elgar moved from the Knights to the Titans at the beginning of the season, and has since got to know the pitch in Centurion well.

"I've played a few four-day games at SuperSport Park. I know what's expected of the wicket.

"I've had some success here as well. It's Test cricket, you can't put pre-conceived ideas in your head before the first ball is bowled."

Elgar last played for the Titans on November 20 in the domestic T20 competition, but insisted he would be ready by Wednesday.

"I've had about three weeks off from my last T20 game. I didn't touch my bat during that period. My mind is fresh and I'm ready to go."

Elgar referred to the heavy blow the West Indies squad would have taken when both Chris Gayle [injury] and Dwayne Bravo [personal reasons] both withdrew after the initial group of players to duty had been announced.

"The fact of the unknown is something we are always wary about. They don't have a lot of name players. Two major batsmen have pulled out of their squad, but there's opportunity for their other batsmen who are hungry and want to prove a point by playing for West Indies.

"They've just scored 300 runs in a day against the invitation side [in Benoni], so they are highly skilled and dangerous cricketers."

If called on by captain Hashim Amla to bowl his part-time offspin, Elgar anticipated blocking up an end.

"I'm not a massive turner of the ball; I'm limited. So my game-plan is to keep it tight." - Sapa

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