Dean Elgar hints at changes to South Africa’s batting line-up after heavy defeat against England

South African teams under pressure can become notoriously prickly and paranoid, convinced that the world has conspired against them with odds unfairly stacked in their opponents’ favour. 

In years past they have blamed umpires, groundsmen, television production companies and even the weather gods for various demises.

They have received criticism without grace and become surly which has never been the best way to bounce back from defeat. 

Dean Elgar has hinted at changes to South Africa’s batting line-up for the Third Test

There was no sign of those extremes after defeat on Saturday but the refusal to confirm the extent of Rassie van der Dussen’s finger injury and the refusal to say what their plans were for the next nine days until the decider at the Oval weren’t good signs.

Captain Dean Elgar confirmed that some ‘tough decisions will have to be made with regard to the batting…’ which is ominous for Aiden Markram. 

He also said that the team would be ‘reconnecting with each other’ before quickly adding that they ‘weren’t disconnected.’

Aiden Markram could be at risk of being dropped after two low scores at Old Trafford

Rassie van der Dussen could also miss out after injuring his finger during the second Test

‘Some time away from the game is never a bad thing,’ he said without suggesting where that time would be spent or what ‘activities as a team’ they had planned. 

Elgar said he ‘couldn’t wait’ for the final Test of the summer but without any fixtures planned the captain and his players made find that wait interminably long. 

It will be difficult to prevent the manner of this defeat from festering and even harder for the tourists to regain any of the impetus and initiative they gained from the victory at Lord’s which already feels a long time ago. 

By September 8 it may be a distant memory.