NEW DELHI: Former South African opener Dean Elgar has officially joined Essex, marking the next chapter of his cricket career after retiring from international cricket earlier this month.
Elgar concluded his tenure with South Africa after playing 86 Tests and accumulating over 5,000 runs for the Proteas.
His final international appearance saw him captaining the Proteas in a Test match against India in Cape Town, where they suffered a seven-wicket defeat in a game that lasted just 642 balls, making it the shortest completed Test match in history.
Elgar, a left-handed batsman, has previously been part of Surrey, winning the English County Championship with them in 2018.
He has also represented Somerset in the past. Elgar’s move to Essex comes as a replacement for the retired former England captain Alastair Cook, who concluded his career at the end of the previous season.
“I’m thrilled to embark on this new chapter of my cricketing journey with Essex,” Elgar said on Friday after signing a three-year contract with the team.
“The club has been pushing for honours in recent years and I’m eager to contribute to further success.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my previous experiences in county cricket and I’m really looking forward to joining up with the squad ahead of the season.”
Essex finished as County Championship runners-up behind Surrey last season.
Essex head coach Anthony McGrath added: “He has had an outstanding career in Test cricket and has demonstrated to the world his desire to score runs at the highest level, right up until he retired.
“His achievements in the international arena speak volumes about his capabilities and we are excited to witness his impact at Essex.”
(With AFP inputs)