Elgar’s last chance to save horror tour

South African captain Dean Elgar has one chance to save himself from the most disappointing Test tour of his career.

In the Proteas’ first innings of the third and final Test against Australia, the opener edged Josh Hazlewood to wicketkeeper Alex Carey on 15 runs and improved his average for the tour from 7.75 to 9.2.

The only time the opening batter has returned worse figures in a series than 9.2 was on debut during South Africa’s trip to Australia in the summer of 2012/13. But on that occasion he played only one match, going for two ducks.

Elgar’s highest score from five innings this time around was 26 in the Boxing Day Test and of his five dismissals, three have been caught behind by Carey.

Since World War II, only two captains have returned worse batting averages on a tour of Australia than Elgar has this summer: West Indies paceman Courtney Walsh in 1996-97 (7.75) and Dinesh Chandimal of Sri Lanka in 2019 (6.00).

Elgar’s next-lowest average for a Test series is 10.75, posted in a two-match home stand against Sri Lanka during February 2019.

To finish the current tour with a higher average than that, Elgar will need a score of 19 or better in the final innings.

But the captain likely won’t want another chance to improve his lowly average: With just over a day to play, South Africa are an infinitesimal chance of victory and so instead must play for a draw.

The first step to securing a draw will be avoiding a follow-on by posting more than 275 runs in the first innings and then stalling for as long as possible.

Despite Elgar’s struggles with the bat, South Africa have full faith in his credentials as an opener and captain.

Proteas batting coach Justin Sammons said Elgar could consider himself a little unlucky, given two of his dismissals came after an umpire’s review.

“It hasn’t quite gone (Elgar’s) way,” Sammons said at stumps on day three.

“Sometimes you do need things to go your way. It’s a game of fine margins.

“But he’s a fighter.

“The tour’s not over for him yet.

“He’s trying his best. We back him. He’s key to our batting unit.”