No complacency, says SA stand-in captain Elgar

Stand-in South African captain Dean Elgar said on Thursday he had given a "blunt message" to his players ahead of the third and final Test against Pakistan, starting at the Wanderers Stadium on Friday. There is a personal reason for Elgar to get a win as captain. His only previous international captaincy was in the first Test against England at Lord’s in 2017 when Du Plessis flew home to be at the birth of his first child. South Africa were beaten in that match and Elgar admitted that he found the experience "chaotic". Elgar said South Africa had been in position to finish off opponents in the final Tests of previous series, notably against India last year, but had let the opportunities slip. South Africa will move up to second place on the International Cricket Council Test rankings, which Elgar said he regarded as "a massive opportunity". Elgar said he was "pretty sure" opening batting partner Aiden Markram would play after undergoing a fitness test on Thursday. He also hinted that South Africa would again opt to play four fast bowlers on a pitch which has usually favoured them. "It looks a good wicket and hopefully it will have pace and bounce."