Temba Bavuma
Top-order batsmen Dean Elgar and Temba Bavuma will lead South Africa in Test and limited-overs formats respectively, announced Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Thursday.
While Bavuma will lead the Proteas in the 2021 and 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cups and the ICC Men’s World Cup in 2023, Elgar will take charge in the next cycle of the World Test Championship (WTC).
In a statement published by CSA, Director of Cricket Graeme Smith thanked Quinton de Kock for leading the side in what are tumultuous times for South African cricket.
“We as CSA are pleased with the appointments of Temba and Dean and believe that we have the men who will lead the Proteas back to their winning ways of old. The pair bring the required stability in both leadership and form to turn the ship in the direction that will eventually bring trophies back to the cabinets," said Smith in the release.
"Temba has been a strong and influential voice in the team in recent times and has shown consistency on the field in all formats, solidifying his place as a leader. He also has the trust and backing of the players and coaches around him.
"We are excited to have him lead the Proteas in the upcoming T20 World Cups as well as the 2023 World Cup in India. He will also be the Test team’s vice-captain, working closely with Dean to ensure continuity and stability in the squad," he added.
Bavuma said that he's delighted to lead the Proteas for the first time and it's one of the greatest honours of his life.
“Captaining the Proteas has been a dream of mine for many years as those closest to me would know. This is one of the greatest honours of my life so far and I am looking forward to picking up where Quinny (de Kock) has left off in leading the team into the new culture that we have developed and continue to work on," said Bavuma.
Elgar also echoed Bavuma's words and said that captaining the Test side is the biggest honour of his career.
“I’ve always said that to captain your country in any form of the game is the biggest honour that a player can be fortunate to receive. To captain my country’s Test team, which I believe to be the pinnacle of the game, is the biggest highlight of my career and I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent my country in such an important way," he said
