NEIL MANTHORP: Elgar and Cricket SA show how staunch consolidation pays off until rivals implode
Dean Elgar’s sixth Test century symbolised the progress South African cricket has been making on and off the field since sliding down the rankings. Not long ago, SA held a position of global significance while ranked No 1 in the world — and the administration was just a step behind the game’s superpowers. Elgar is a strong personality and unafraid to argue and scrap if that is what is required. He stands up for himself and fights his corner but has long since figured out that arguing is a wasteful distraction — better just to get on with the job of batting and collecting runs. Sri Lanka arrived on these shores full of hope and belief following their thrashing of Australia on home soil and their more than adequate beating of Zimbabwe, during which they coped easily with African conditions. It convinced them they could become the first team from the subcontinent to win a series in SA in 17 attempts but it is looking like a forlorn dream now. Their seam bowlers simply do not have the n...
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