'Hurt' South Africa aim to bounce back in Sydney Test; WTC points also on mind - captain Dean Elgar
We can bounce back in 3rd Test against Australia, says SA captain Elgar
South Africa Test captain Dean Elgar believes his team has it in them to stage a comeback in the final Test in Sydney, which begins on January 4th. After losing the first two Tests by significant margins, South Africa not only lost the series but have also slipped to the fourth position (PCT - 50.00) below Sri Lanka (PCT - 53.33) in the World Test Championship points table.
This leaves them in a dicey situation as if they lose another Test, their percentage would drop further and their chances of making it to the finals will slim down as well. For them to somehow remain in the race, they need to beat Australia at the SCG.
Talking about his side’s chances, captain Elgar said the team plays for the badge, and that every player will have to put up a massive effort to ensure the result goestheir way.
ALSO READ:IPL 2023: 'Sharing dressing room with some big names will help me', says KKR new recruit Litton Das
"We are playing for the badge, playing for the pride of our team. We've got to believe we can still bounce back and put up a massive effort for the third Test,” Elgar quoted.
“Playing for pride is of the utmost importance for us going forward now. I'm sure there are a lot of guys hurting. I can tell you that," he added.
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
National Handloom Day 2026: From Alia Bhatt to Samantha Ruth Prabhu; Actresses who celebrated India's textile heritage as brides
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Unitree Robotics targets $9 billion valuation in landmark IPO backed by DeepSeek and Tencent
)
India names 27 sites in Arunachal Pradesh
)
Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata OTT: When will Kangana Ranaut's film stream online?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How many soldiers operate one S-400 battery?
)
Shakib Al Hasan ready to return to Bangladesh—under one condition
)
‘Fake news’: MEA rejects report claiming India sought defence pact with Israel after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey deal
)
Rockstar to unveil GTA 6 extended look ahead of November launch
)
Russia forms Ukrainian Volunteer Spetsnaz Brigade to fight Ukraine
)
Drug-resistant fungus that hides in hair and enters bloodstream reported in 23 US states
)
Technology transfer deal boosts India's defence manufacturing ambitions
)
Border row erupts in Europe after Ceuta crossings, Spain imposes border controls on Italy
)
Morale plummets on USS Abraham Lincoln: Are US sailors reaching a breaking point? | GRAVITAS
)
'Security can't be bought with Pakistan, Turkey deal': Iran tells Saudi Arabia
)
Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside
)
Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella vows to ‘defeat narco-terrorists’, signals hardline shift
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (August 7, 2026): Operation Safed Sagar, Vadhandhi, Main Vaapis Aaunga- 6 movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth scripts history as Indian Air Force gets its first woman ‘Top Gun’ pilot
)
RSS says Gen Z protests reflect genuine distress
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
IAF officer held for sharing sensitive information in 'honey trap' case, booked under Official Secrets Act
)
Stray Kids under scrutiny? Fans react to Grammy submission silence after BTS boycott
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI doesn't need external fuel tanks to fly vast distances
)
Jugal Hansraj reunites with Shekhar Kapur after 40 years for Masoom: The Next Generation
)
New speed limits, automatic challans: Big traffic change coming to Delhi-Meerut Expressway. All you need to know
)
India officially names 27 places in Arunachal to counter China's renaming claims
)
Trump calls White House ballroom ruling a 'national disgrace' as court says Congress approval needed
)
US sanctions Iran’s crypto network after Strait of Hormuz attacks, offers $15m bounty for intel on IRGC finance
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI is one of the heaviest fighters ever built
)
Uttarakhand young innovator builds India's own flying vehicle, conducts first test flight: WATCH
)
Chilling video shows students take cover as teen opens fire at Thai school
)
Reese Witherspoon's father hospitalised after poolside incident in Nashville: Report
After the first Test at the Gabba, Brisbane that ended inside two days, for which the pitch also received a ‘below-average’ rating by the ICC,the next match – the Boxing Day Test was played at the iconic MCG, where Australia won the contest by an innings and 182 runs.
While Australia will miss the services of their premier pacer Mitchell Starc and all-rounder Cameron Green in the third Test as both are out withfinger injuries, the hosts have added spinner Ashton Agar and batter Matthew Renshaw to the squad as their replacements.
On the other hand, the Proteas will also be without their batter Theunis de Bruyn, who would be returning home for the birth of his first child. Van der Dussen is most likely to replace him in the XI.
