Dean Elgar scores century two days after announcing retirement

Dean Elgar marked his impending farewell from professional cricket with a century for Essex against Surrey in the County Championship on August 28. The left-handed opener scored 113, his 56th first-class hundred, just two days after confirming he would step away from the game at the close of the 2026 season.

Essex Cricket published an official statement on August 26 confirming that Elgar, aged 39, would retire at the end of the current Championship campaign. His professional career stretched across 21 years and encompassed more than 500 appearances in all formats and competitions.

His departure from the county game follows a distinguished international career with South Africa. Elgar made his senior Test debut in 2012, having captained the South Africa Under-19 side at the 2006 Under-19 World Cup. He went on to play 86 Tests, accumulating 5,347 runs at an average of 37.92 with 14 centuries. He led South Africa on 18 occasions, with his final match as captain coming against India at Cape Town in January 2024. In that same series, he contributed 185 in his penultimate Test, a knock that helped South Africa secure a victory by an innings. He stepped back from international cricket after the 2023 season.

"I feel it’s the right time for me now. I’m not getting any younger, 39 years old, and I’ve got a lot of things going on back home with regards to a young but growing-up-very-quickly family. It’s the right time for me now to be present at home and be there for my partner and my kids," Elgar said in an official statement.

Elgar arrived at Essex in 2024 following earlier county spells with Somerset and Surrey. He slotted into the opening position left vacant by Alastair Cook and scored more than 1,000 Championship runs in his debut season at the club, earning the Batter of the Year award at the end-of-season presentation. In 2025, he maintained that consistency, averaging above 40 and registering two centuries across the campaign.

His 113 against Surrey on August 28, 2026 demonstrated that his output had not declined as he approached the end of his playing days. The innings was his 56th first-class hundred and stands as one of his final contributions in professional cricket before he returns home to his family.