ENG vs SA: Proteas Test skipper Dean Elgar Credits England's 'Correct Tempo' For Series Win

South Africa Test skipper Dean Elgar has credited England’s 2-1 victory in the three-match Test series to Ben Stokes’ side playing at the “correct tempo”. With the first two days of the third Test at The Oval abandoned due to rain and the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, a result seemed unlikely.

However, the Proteas failed to hold on and conceded the match and with it, the series- registering scores of 118 and 169 in the two innings as the hosts won by nine wickets.

Dean Elgar suggests England didn’t play any extraordinary cricket

South Africa, though had started the series with an innings and 12-run victory at Lord’s, the Three Lions clawed back to clinch victory in the Old Trafford Test by an innings and 85 runs and then The Oval Test.

Elgar was quoted as saying by supersport.com, “I don’t think they (England) played extraordinary cricket. I thought they played the correct tempo and when their tail was up, they were striking when they needed to strike. That’s good awareness of Test cricket. I didn’t think it was out of the ordinary,”

Dean Elgar reckons lack of experienced players in the Proteas squad affected results

Elgar was not happy with the 11-day break between the second Test at Old Trafford and the final game at The Oval, saying that it was something the cricket governing bodies needed to look at.

“We could have cracked on with the third Test and been home already. They like to have two Tests and a decent break and then play the last one. You can’t plan for three-day Tests, it was quite a long period. I felt four days or five days was enough and we could have cracked on with the third Test. That’s something to look at going forward.”

The Proteas skipper added that lack of experience was one of the main reasons for his team’s defeat, adding he would seek cricketers with proven first-class records in the side for the Test team’s next engagement — three Tests in Australia later this year.

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