Elgar let’s rip

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May 06, 2024, 11:04

Ex-Proteas captain Dean Elgar blames Shukri Conrad for the way his Test career came to an end

Former Test captain Dean Elgar described a toxic environment of politics and poor administration in South African cricket and said he felt he had been “stabbed in the back” when he was summarily axed from the leadership role last year.

Elgar, 36, is now playing for English county Essex after retiring from international cricket.

He said in a wide-ranging interview with the Rapport newspaper that he had held back from criticising his former employers before his contract with Cricket South Africa expired at the end of April.

He said he was exposed to an unhealthy culture after he was appointed captain in March 2021.

"I became a part-time cricketer and full-time politician, something that I never want to go through again.

"I am a sportsman, not a politician or a cricket administrator, but I was thrown into a cauldron in which I had to be all three. If I had known that before, I would never have accepted the captaincy."

He said the resignation of former captain Graeme Smith as director of cricket in March 2022 had put a heavy burden on him, coach Mark Boucher and the team management.

Elgar said it was difficult to balance the interests of the team with those of CSA’s management.

"I tried to make the best of a bad job, to control the things I could control. But my own form took a dive."

He said that with hindsight he wished he had been more selfish and focused more on his own game.

No recognition

It was a shock nevertheless when he was summoned to a meeting with director of cricket Enoch Nkwe and new coach Shukri Conrad in February last year and told that he had been replaced as captain by Temba Bavuma.

"It felt as though they did not recognise all my hard work over the previous year-and-a-half, that they didn’t realise how much we had improved as a team," said Elgar.

"From being sixth or seventh in the world we became a team with the potential to play in the World Test championship final."

Elgar led South Africa in 18 of his 86 Tests. They climbed the Test rankings with series wins against West Indies, India and Bangladesh before losing away series in England and Australia in his last two series in charge.

Conrad was appointed as head coach of the Test team in January 2023 and appointing Bavuma was one of his first moves.

According to Elgar, the only reason Conrad gave for the change was that he felt “better aligned” with Bavuma.

Elgar said he had good relationships with his former teammates, including Bavuma, and played under the new captain in series against West Indies and India, captaining the side in his final Test against the latter team after Bavuma was injured.

But he said he realised after the meeting with Nkwe and Conrad that he had to make a decision about his future.

"Shukri Conrad is the reason why my Test career was cut short," said Elgar.

He said he was enjoying the healthy cricket environment at Essex, where he has a three-year contract.

"I think I don’t fit into the South African situation as it is now and probably into the future," he said.

Cricket South Africa has been approached for comment.

May 06, 2024, 13:12

I had my suspicions about Shukri Conrad.....the above article confirms that he has no idea, a pretender, a would be if he could be. He caught my attention when he played Brevis at 7 the reason was that he wanted an Allrounder in that position. I posted back then that he was a clown as he already had a world class Allrounder in Marco Jansen aside from that Brevis is an opener, has always been an opener and will always be an opener. From memory Brevis played three games in that role, failed in two and scored 72 in one, he then sang Brevis's praises............the question is then why isn't Brevis in the WC squad? The answer we now know is that Chooki is clueless.

May 06, 2024, 16:08

I’m so disillusioned with SA cricket these days that I don’t even bother watching

I can’t stomach a coach that keeps selecting a bunch of 30 plus year old never beens and continues to ignore some of the young talent coming through like Brevis, Hermann etc

May 06, 2024, 22:44

Yep, agree with you it's hard to watch the Proteas knowing what should be and/or what could be but you know, I love the game and it's the Proteas and all that so I have no choice. Like you it pisses me off. Funny, I saw it coming, mentioned it on here a while back knowing there ain't nothing stopping the stench of their incompetence. 

Copped another one, Bavuma is still about, apparently he's captain of the ODI and Test team. Doesn't that make you puke followed by a kick in the nuts.

May 06, 2024, 23:04

It’s all such a bloody mess

May 06, 2024, 23:57

There's a reason why no major sponsor will invest in the Proteas.............I mean seriously who would pour millions into a show run by clowns.

May 07, 2024, 05:22

More blacks destroying everything they touch.

Nothing new.

May 07, 2024, 21:37

Conrad is a symptom...the rot in SA cricket is much deeper than what happened to Elgar...Bavuma being captain is a joke.

May 09, 2024, 00:29

Conrad is a symptom...the rot in SA cricket is much deeper than what happened to Elgar...Bavuma being captain is a joke.

And so is Bavuma....a symptom. Nothing new in what you're saying, Dave's calling it a mess.....I'm saying it's sick. The game and the team is just a trivial part of a sick organization. A race obsessed sick organization.

May 10, 2024, 01:36

Sorry to say that you are spot on Denny.

We cannot change history but have to learn to move ahead and always put out best foot forward and ensure that we never go back to the mess that took place and the lives that it cost and the damage it did to fellow citizens of SA.

But unfortunately the history of Africa has thus far gone back to revenge and that appears to be the norm across the continent.

Really we are 30 years into the NEW SA and total corruption and reverse discrimination is being forced onto one and all who are not ANC supporters or connected to them in some way.


Shocking, but sadly the truth.

When will we every learn?


May 10, 2024, 03:09

When will we ever learn?

Never......it's Africa.

Reminds me of the closing line in the movie 'Chinatown'...

Go home Jake......go home....it's Chinatown.

May 10, 2024, 05:58

Well, to be fair, the white man is guilty in mostly every other country as well

Watch the media, they are too shit scared to report any Black on White crime, because that does not fit the narrative..... but White on Black crime is immediately put on the front pages.....Fact.

It's a disgusting ongoing trend ....

Check the recent shit with these 3 white university kids that just got awarded $1 million for the whole "Blackface" embarrassment .... it's despicable

May 11, 2024, 09:54

Ja Dave, I favour youth as well, talented youth obviously but with one exception and only for the upcoming WC......just think he can do a job for his country and that man is Faf Du Plessis. Oh I know you won't agree but Faf is in great form on the world stage while Quinton is not and Rickelton with no WC experience will be under a lot of pressure.

May 14, 2024, 21:52

Yeah I’d be happy with Faf in the side

I think we need to start building a young test side

May 17, 2024, 20:38

We can't build sh!t before CSA rid itself of the rot at the top...fck them.

May 20, 2024, 03:12

It wasn't that long ago when the previous admin was replaced with a new one and it had the support of the current Minister of Sport. That's how rotten the previous admin were......not saying that the current one is as bad, perhaps two farts better in that they didn't jump up and down when Chooki selected the only black player in the squad who is Rabada for the upcoming WC.

But AARHG I hear you, it is bloody sad they've managed to perfect useless. I'm not sure how one can expect the players to shine under such a gemors.

May 20, 2024, 03:49

https://cricket.co.za/proteas-men/



Proteas Men

Cricket South Africa
https://cricket.co.za › proteas-men

 
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