Elgar ready for Tests after "toughest" home season

A 23-innings century-less run has left Alviro Petersen as the man squinting into the spotlight's glare in the build-up to South Africa's Test series against West Indies, but the focus is slowly shifting to the other opener, Dean Elgar. The left-hander, who took over from Graeme Smith at the top of the order, has only had four of his 12 Tests in that position and is trying to establish himself in the spot against the backdrop of what he called his "toughest" season to date.

Elgar moved from Knights to Titans, which meant that for the first time in his career, he is based outside the franchise where he learnt his game and he has found the going tough. Titans are suffering a poor season, having finished last in the 20-over competition after winning just two of their five one-day cup matches and losing the first-class opener. By implication, that has left Elgar with limited opportunity to score runs, although he fared well in the shortest format where he averaged 42.60 in six innings.

"This is my ninth season and it's the toughest I have had domestically - not personally but just from the external factors that influence a franchise," Elgar said. "When you come to a franchise and you've got a bit of a name and been around and played Test cricket, you think you should just fit in and make every side. But that's one of the reasons I've made the change - I'm getting out of my comfort zone. In Bloemfontein I would have played every game and maybe have captained the Knights. But it wasn't about that. It was about making me a better player, challenging myself to make every team for the Titans."

Elgar did not play in Titans' last three T20 matches, as they searched for a way to turn their fortunes around, and used the time off to re-energise. "I've had about three weeks off and I didn't touch my bat for that period," he said. "I was getting myself over what has happened in the T20 campaign and what can happen in the Test scenario. My mind is fresh because I've done everything but cricket. I'm ready to go."

Mental preparation is crucial for Elgar because the first Test in Centurion will only be the second time he will open in a Test at home. It is only expected to be the spiciest surface of the three, where opening the batting will be most difficult. "I have done it for eight years in first-class cricket in South Africa so maybe in that sense, I am accustomed to the conditions and I know what's expected of the wicket," Elgar said.

Although he admitted the pitch will work to the South African pace packs' advantage, he said there will be enough in it for batsmen who are willing to show patience. "SuperSport Park provides a wicket that if you bowl well, you will get rewarded and if you bat well and apply yourself you will score runs. That's what our guys do the best in the world," he said. "The wicket compliments our bowlers because there is extra bounce and a little bit of extra pace behind the ball but the batters seem to enjoy batting here. If you apply yourself and get your mind around batting for a long time, you can do well here."

There is enough evidence to support Elgar's claim. Centurion is where Jacques Kallis scored his first double-hundred and where Sachin Tendulkar scored his 50th Test century. Neither of those players are playing international cricket anymore and South Africa are still coming to terms with the loss of Kallis and Smith. "That era has come to an end now," Elgar said. "The guys who are in the team appreciate what has happened and are mature and professional enough to understand that it's the time for another opening pair to start things out."

That means both Elgar and Petersen will be expected to perform and like coach Russell Domingo, Elgar believes the runs waiting to flow from Petersen's bat are about to leak out. "There's a big one around the corner for him. I can just sense he is hungry to perform. When there is a bit of crunch on him, it brings out the best in him," Elgar said. "I back Alviro for a big hundred and to keep the people quiet. He has done that throughout his career. He has been a guy who is under the pump most of the time and he silences guys with the bat."