Bavuma, Elgar confirmed as new Proteas captains
Cricket South Africa has announced the appointments of Temba Bavuma and Dean Elgar as captains of the Proteas.
Bavuma will lead the limited overs teams while Elgar will captain the team in the Test format.
Bavuma will lead the Proteas in the 2021 and 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cups as well as the ICC Men’s World Cup in 2023. Elgar will take the reins into the next cycle of the ICC World Test Championship.
“We are grateful to Quinton (de Kock) for the work he has put in as captain of the team in the limited overs formats and are indebted to him for stepping up while the national selection panel continued its search for the Test captain. We expect him to still play an integral role in the team’s leadership group,” said CSA’s Director of Cricket Graeme Smith.
“Temba has been a strong and influential voice in the team in recent times and has shown consistency on the field in all formats, solidifying his place as a leader. He also has the trust and backing of the players and coaches around him. We are excited to have him lead the Proteas in the upcoming T20 World Cups as well as the 2023 World Cup in India. He will also be the Test team’s vice-captain, working closely with Dean to ensure continuity and stability in the squad.
“Dean has made no secret of his Test captaincy ambitions over the years and we are pleased to have a leader who is ready, willing and able to step up to the massive task of turning our Test cricket fortunes around. His role as a leader in the Test team has never been in doubt and I know that he relishes the prospect of captaining the Test team.
“We are confident that he will bring the same grit and determination to his captaincy as he has brought to his many performances on the field over many years.”
ALSO READ: Duane Vermeulen named SA Rugby Player of the Year as the Bulls win big
Bavuma said he is honoured and delighted to lead the Proteas for the first time.
“Captaining the Proteas has been a dream of mine for many years as those closest to me would know. This is one of the greatest honours of my life so far and I am looking forward to picking up where Quinny (de Kock) has left off in leading the team into the new culture that we have developed and continue to work on.
“The responsibility of captaining one’s country is not one I take lightly, and I am looking forward to this new challenge and journey with Dean in the Test cricket format, as well as leading the team to not just one, but three ICC World Cups in the very near future.”
Elgar believes being captain of your country is the biggest honour that a player can receive.
“To captain my country’s Test team, which I believe to be the pinnacle of the game, is the biggest highlight of my career and I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent my country in such an important way.”
