David Warner has been one of the greats of cricket as an opener. He performed well for Australia across the formats. On the other hand, South Africa found a solid opener in Dean Elgar in Test Cricket. After Gary Kristen, Greame Smith, Herschelle Gibbs Dean Elgar has been their most trusted and reliable Test opener. He scored 5146 runs with 13 centuries and 23 fiftes from 84 Tests before his farewell series.
As South African Selectors told him that he is not part of their long term plans, Dean Elgar announced retirement from International Tests post Indian Matches. The first Test of his farewell series has started on Boxing Day at Centurion. KL Rahul scored a big century to help India cross 200 and the team scored 245, despite top order failure.
South Africa needed a solid performance from openers Elgar and Aiden Markram, against in-form Jaspirt Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. India went with extra batting depth by selecting Shardul Thakur and gave youngster Prasidh Krishna, an opportunity to prove at Test level. Markram well early for a brilliant delivery of Siraj. Dean Elgar had to deliver and he stated that he would love to retire on a high note post the series.
David Warner wanted to prolong his T20s and ODI career, hence, he is retiring from Tests. Coincidentally, in his first innings of his farewell series against Pakistan, David Warner scored a huge century and made a statement to his naysayers for offering him a farewell. Now, Dean Elgar has repeated the feat by scoring a relatively quick century for his standards against India in first innings.
Dean Elgar scored his 14th Test century in 140 balls with 19 boundaries. Unpredictable Shardul Thakur and slightly wayward Prasidh Krishna have helped him reach the milestone at quick pace. He has put on 100 runs partnership with David Bedingham for 4th wicket post Bumrah double strike. He is currently batting on 120 at the crease and looking to put SA in a dominating position by the end of the Day 2. South Africa has scored 218/3 in just 54 overs.