Dignitary Elgar might need to swing past the caretaker's shed en route to the center for the throw before the first of two Tests at Hagley Oval beginnings next Thursday. Not to discover what the pitch may do, however to acquire a lawnmower. At the point when Elgar showed up at an internet based question and answer session hours before he and his crew left for New Zealand last Wednesday, he was unmistakable as South Africa's skipper. Eight days on at another presser, this one radiated from his lodging in Christchurch, he appeared as though another person. The base portion of his face had turned into a bonsai baobab. Indeed, even in New Zealand, where excessive public presentations of male beard growth are however normal as biting gum may be not in the city of Singapore, Elgar and his facial hair would stand out. If by some stroke of good luck he was permitted to stand out. With the exception of preparing and planned rec center visits, the South Africans are restricted to their rooms according to severe Covid-19 quarantine guidelines. That could clarify Elgar's hustling hirsuteness: "It's a blend of weariness and perhaps dissatisfaction. What's more perhaps I'm a piece apathetic to shave it off. Be that as it may, I'll perceive the way long I go with it." The crew's 10 days of isolation closes on Monday, negative tests allowing. After they make great their departure, and dissimilar to cricket crews in different nations, including South Africa, they will not be confined to a bio-bubble. Perhaps then Elgar and his wondrous bristles will take to Colombo Street, Christchurch's primary drag. His blossoming facial hair has unquestionably been seen inside the visiting party, and somewhere around one part has recommended it ought to go before the primary Test begins. By then, at that point, and deciding by its running development, it very well may be some place past Elgar's elbows and as wide as his shoulders. Henceforth the conceivable need to acquire a lawnmower from the Hagley Oval caretaker. Positively, Elgar will trust there is less grass on New Zealand's quickest, bounciest pitch than there is at present hair on his jawline. That is as an initial hitter. As the head of a group prepared with quality quicks, he won't need a lot of it shaved off. Grass, that is. Yet, he is additionally aware of a Kiwi assault that harbors three of the best 10 positioned bowlers on the planet: Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner. South Africa's just top-tenner is Kagiso Rabada. As the No.2 quick bowler in the game - Pat Cummins is No. 1 - he is higher on the rundown than any of the New Zealanders. Tom Latham is the main player on one or the other side in the best 10 batting rankings, which would appear to shift the equilibrium in the bowlers' approval. In spite of his group having dulled India's tremendously vaunted pace pack to win a Test series in South Africa in December and January, Elgar realized his players were in for a harsh test: "I say this with a ton of regard, yet the New Zealand assault are a little down on pace contrasted with the Indian assault. In saying that, they execute their abilities totally in their circumstances." The home side ought to have a fundamentally preferred thought of those conditions over the guests. South Africa had two 2015 World Cup warm-up matches at Hagley Oval, yet their main authority game there was an ODI in February 2017. None of the XI in that match are in the current crew. South Africa last played a Test in New Zealand in Hamilton in March 2017. Elgar, Temba Bavuma and Rabada are the survivors from that XI. The South Africans have played 37 Tests - 13 away in England, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan and West Indies - since their last experience with New Zealand in the configuration. New Zealand have played 31, 13 of which have been in Australia, England, India, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates. The sides last met at Edgbaston during the 2019 World Cup. From that point forward South Africa have played 72 games in all designs in eight distinct nations and areas. New Zealand have played 75 out of seven. "It's frustrating we don't get to play against New Zealand a ton, since I've adored the series I've been essential for," Elgar, who has played in three rubbers against the Kiwis, said. "They're wild contenders, very much like South Africans. We're there to win. They are as well. They're a-list cricket crew and they will emerge with all firearms blasting. We are as well." New Zealand have never won in a Test series between the groups. Three have been drawn and South Africa have won the other 12. Yet, the home side are the debut title holders and will begin as top choices despite the fact that they are without commander and batting top dog Kane Williamson, who is out with an elbow injury. South Africa's batting has likewise endured a shot, with No. 3 Keegan Petersen eliminated on account of Covid. Close to half of South Africa's crew of 17 have placed their names in the cap for the IPL uber closeout in Bangalore this end of the week. In this way, whatever occurs in all the offering and purchasing, Rabada, Aiden Markram, Marco Jansen, Lungi Ngidi, Keshav Maharaj, Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen and Zubayr Hamza will all have their consideration gotten back to the main job by next Thursday. Elgar, who has played just 81 T20s in a profession zeroed in on the red-ball game, was cheerful not to be among the restless eight: "I'm certainly not in that bartering in light of the fact that I can't stand one more year of dissatisfaction and not getting the fulfillment of resigning in a couple of years' time due to 1,000,000 dollar contract. I'm significantly more hopeful than that." Be that as it may, he comprehended the significance existing apart from everything else for those hoping to land nothing to joke about: "A few people may have the sale turn out well for them, and I'll be the primary person to salute them since I'll realize the lagers are on them. It's a chance for somebody to have their life changed in light of the fact that they've played very great cricket all through their global vocations. Assuming a player gets nothing to joke about we will in any case maneuver him into line since he must play for us. Playing Test cricket for your nation is a definitive." Maybe. In any case, not any more. What's more quit worrying about the brews: would one of those newly stamped moguls be able to purchase Elgar a barbershop shave?