Dean Elgar says the opportunity to lead the Proteas in their warm-up match against the England Lions is a dream come true.

Elgar will lead the team in Faf du Plessis’ absence while he awaits the birth of his first child.

‘I’m very excited. It has been a dream of mine since I have been a young boy, and even if it doesn’t happen at Lord’s it’s still a great opportunity for me to be a senior leader within the group. I’m looking forward to it,’ said Elgar.

He continued by reiterating that the Test side won’t be affected by the disappointment of the Champions Trophy, and says there is renewed energy in the camp.

‘It’s a good reflection point of view for us. As mentioned, we have a lot of new faces, which is exciting for us. There is a different energy within the Test side, irrespective of how things have gone in the past. The energy is always in a good place for Test cricket, which is what I want for the boys,’ Elgar added.

The Lions warm-up match provides an opportunity for the team to sharpen their game ahead of the first Test at Lord’s, and Elgar stressed that the side will make the most of the time in the middle.

‘We have to compete. We have to compete against a very good England Lions side. To get that competitive edge will be a big thing for us. Naturally the guys will have that instinct in them, so we have an important three days, weather permitting,’ Elgar remarked.

‘We have to crack on tomorrow and hit the ground running. In my opinion, the series starts tomorrow. It’s going to be vital for us to have three good days of cricket.’

The Proteas’ clash against the England Lions begins on Thursday.

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