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Dean Elgar has officially signed a three-year contract with Essex as one of their overseas players.
Elgar, 36, declared he was going to retire before of the India series, and he made his 86th and last Test match for South Africa earlier this month. Since the conclusion of the 2023 county season, he has been associated with a move to Essex, as the team seeks an accomplished top-order batsman to take Alastair Cook’s place.
Elgar, who led his nation in 18 Test matches as captain, has played county cricket for Surrey and Somerset in the past. Simon Harmer, his international teammate and a vital component of Essex’s recent success, will be playing with him in Chelmsford.
“I’m thrilled to embark on this new chapter of my cricketing journey with Essex,” Elgar said. “The club have 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 season.”
In the Boxing Day Test at Centurion, Elgar scored an innings victory over India with a score of 5347 runs at 37.92 for South Africa. In his farewell outing, Elgar made his fourteenth Test century, a seven-hour 185. He was told, nevertheless, that he was not part of South Africa’s long-term plans, as the squad had very little Test cricket scheduled for the next two years, according to red-ball coach Shukri Conrad.
Anthony McGrath, Essex’s head coach, said: “Dean brings a wealth of talent and experience that will undoubtedly strengthen our squad for the 2024 season.
“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.”