Abhai says, yes

Resolute defence, dogged approach, and hunger for more success are three qualities that come to mind when having a discussion on the Proteas Test opener, Dean Elgar.

While he’s built a respectable front in Test cricket, believe it or not, his very first international game came in an ODI series against England. Initially, it didn’t seem like it came naturally to him since he couldn’t score very quickly, but that has changed not too long ago.

He’ll be 33 in July, and a couple of younger batsmen have shown their capability in the ODI series against Australia in March.

Elgar has often been categorized as a longer-format specialist, and he’s found that to be frustrating. However, in the past two years, he has done a tremendous job to adapt well to the current demands of 50-over and T20 cricket.

His overall strike rate of 80 in 50-over cricket may not seem convincing, but let’s take a peek at his domestic returns from the last two Momentum One Day Cups:

In his last 19 One-Day Cup games, he has 739 runs to his name at an average of 49.27, a strike rate of 97.88, with two 100s and five 50s.

He’s known for his anchor role, but he can switch gears and step on the gas as and when the situation calls for it. Elgar smashed an imperious 137 from 121 balls against the Lions last year, as wickets were tumbling around him.

His unbeaten century in this year’s competition helped catapult the Titans to a robust total.

On the same token, Elgar could also be a contender for T20Is, albeit seemingly an outside choice. Here’s a roundup of Elgar’s returns in the Mzansi Super League for the Tshwane Spartans:

16 games, 418 runs, 34.83 average, 122.94 strike rate, three 50s.

It might be harder to re-enter ODI plans, but Elgar is worth a try in T20Is. Reeza Hendricks has been the incumbent opener for the better part of two years and has been in search of solidity in recent times.

With Bavuma honing his craft well, either he or Elgar could open with Quinton de Kock or come in at first drop.

Yes, it’s not a very popular opinion, but it’s sensible and fair to reward those that have established a favourable reputation in domestic cricket, and Elgar has checked the boxes for a potential limited-overs reboot.

Marc says, No

Coupled with his ripe age of 33, and for the betterment of the sport at the national level, it would seem healthier for Dean Elgar to continue channelling his focus into Test cricket.

With retirement soon looming, it would be a safer bet for Elgar to reinforce his place in the current fold of Test players with his valiant batting approach as a much-respected opener.

Although Elgar possesses enough credentials to stake a claim across all three formats, his services in the red-ball format remain considerably more critical.

Based purely on merit one would only consider Elgar for ODIs and T20s if there were several key injuries in pivotal positions within the team. At his age and this late in his career, he should stay put – that would be the honourable stance.

South Africa’s ODI and T20I sides should be building for the future and because the shortened formats are graced with a world showpiece every four years – with the T20 World Cup also around the corner – it remains paramount to construct a squad around that cycle.

Without this strategy, the likes of Janneman Malan (24), Kyle Verreynne (23), Heinrich Klaasen (28) and the more seniors, Rassie van der Dussen (31) and Jon-Jon Smuts (31) would not have come to the fore for South Africa.

The aforementioned players have already surged onto the international scene, having excelled in the Proteas most recent 3-0 ODI whitewash over Australia, and there is no cause to disrupt that momentum.

Captain Quinton de Kock (27) and David Miller (30) are also there to stay and they both still have vital roles to fulfil, while Temba Bavuma (30) has also been the more logical addition of late.

Let’s also not forget that Aiden Markram (25), having already delved into international cricket’s trials and toils, could seemingly fill important shoes in the foreseeable future.

With Elgar, the most senior of the lot, his selection in the green and gold would not make sense and won’t be complementary to the team moving forward.

That would also mean the likes of Grant Roelofsen (23), Zubayr Hamza (24) and Ryan Rickelton (23), all of whom have been monumental in white-ball cricket domestically, could be denied entrance into a national outfit trying to hone talent and boost the international experience.

What isn’t broken doesn’t need any fixing, therefore Elgar’s inclusion and subsequent return would not be justifiable.