Dean Elgar belongs to the old school. He connects to a time when South African batting was tough and resilient.

The South African skipper said on Sunday, “You’ve got to ask yourself the tough questions and answer them. That’s the culture I was brought up with.”

Elgar admitted he was taken aback by Quinton de Kock’s decision to retire from Tests. “It came as a shock to me really. I did not see it coming, it was disappointing. But he gave me his reasons, and you have got to respect his decision.”

He was aware of the South African batting woes, apart from himself and Temba Bavuma, hardly anyone showed form. “Players have to take responsibility for the roles they have been given. We have been talking a lot. I told them that I wanted to see action.”

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In the same breath, Elgar said, “One or two failures does not make someone a bad player. You got to give them time, many of them are inexperienced. And someone like Bavuma has to push on after getting a start.”

He was aware of the need for a sizable opening partnership with Aiden Markram. “The opening partnership will give the middle-order some cushion.”

Elgar said left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj was very much in his scheme of things. “Apart from Pant, all the Indian batsmen are right-handers. So a left-arm spinner could be handy. And I am a big fan of playing a spinner, it gives the attack much-needed balance.”

On the prospect of facing the feared pair of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami at the Wanderers, Elgar said, “Test cricket can be bloody tough. It’s time for us to put on our big boy pants and face up to them.”

Elgar does relish the sniff of combat.