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Gareth Southgate's side condemned Italy to a first home defeat in European qualifying since 1999 with a 2-1 victory in Naples

All hail Harry Kane! England’s new record goalscorer.

On a night which saw England make history in Naples, it was their captain who stole the show when he struck from the penalty spot to score his 54th international goal.

The finish pushed him past Wayne Rooney at the top of the England scoring charts and helped the Three Lions claim their first win on Italian soil since 1961.

Declan Rice was also on target, with the West Ham skipper opening the scoring early on before Kane’s spot kick doubled the visitors’ lead before half-time.

Italy responded well after the break and pulled a goal back through Mateo Retegui, but they couldn’t find an equaliser, even after Luke Shaw had been sent off 10 minutes from full-time.

The win sees England get off to the perfect start in their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, while the Italians are left to lick their wounds after a first home European qualifying defeat in 24 years.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.

GettyWINNER: Harry Kane

England’s all time record goalscorer. Congratulations, Harry Kane.

It was always a question of when, not if, Kane would go to surpass Wayne Rooney’s record of 53 England goals. And the Tottenham striker certainly picked a legendary setting to write his name into the history books.

Given what happened to him at the World Cup, it was fitting that Kane broke the record from the penalty spot, putting to bed the ghosts of the quarter-final in Qatar.

That miss against France must have been playing on his mind when he stepped up to take the spot kick just before half-time, but he showed nerves of steel to send Gianluigi Donnarumma the wrong way from 12 yards.

You could see exactly what the moment meant to Kane as he wheeled away in celebration. 54 goals in 81 games for his country. A fantastic achievement.

AdvertisementLOSER: Roberto Mancini

Having failed to guide his country to the World Cup, Italy’s manager would have been desperate to get the European qualifying campaign off to a positive start.

But instead he had to watch his side be outplayed by England in Naples.

There was at least a bit of a fightback in the second half, but that will not stop Mancini’s job from coming under more scrutiny.

This was Italy’s first home defeat in a European qualifying match since 1999 and it ended a 40-game unbeaten run in European qualifying which stretched back to a 3-1 loss in France in 2006.

That will only add further pressure to Mancini, who many in Italy believe is already lucky to still be in a job.

Getty ImagesWINNER: Declan Rice

You can see why so many clubs are battling to be at the front of the queue in the race to sign Declan Rice this summer.

The West Ham captain was exceptional at the World Cup and he picked up where he left off in Qatar with another dominant performance in midfield against Italy.

It was Rice who got England up and running when he opened the scoring early on, reacting quickest to turn home the loose ball after Harry Kane’s shot had deflected into his path.

And then he ran the show in the middle of the park, especially in the first half when Italy just couldn’t cope with his ability to bring the ball out from deep and start off England attacks.

Rice didn’t have things all his own way after the interval as the hosts started to press forward, but he stayed strong and provided the back four with some much needed protection in the closing stages.

West Ham say the only way Rice will leave this summer is for a British record transfer fee and on this performance you can see why. He looks every inch a £100 million man.

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Getty ImagesLOSER: Jack Grealish

Grealish has been in impressive form for his club of late, but he struggled to make much of an impression in Naples.

He wasted one glorious chance late on in the first half which would have rounded off a wonderful England move and sent them into the break 3-0 in front.

Why he decided to try and turn in Kane’s cross with the outside of his foot only he will know, but it was a miss that could have proven costly given the way the second half turned out.

This was a big opportunity for Grealish to impress in Naples, with Gareth Southgate picking him over his club mate Phil Foden, but it was one he didn’t really grasp.

GOAL preview the continent’s stars expected to feature for their respective clubs around the world this weekend

GettyAfricans to watch in Europe

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s seven goals in 10 games in all competitions puts him in a good place before Sunday’s El Clasico at Real Madrid.

In Serie A, the top three all play on Saturday with Kalidou Koulibaly and Andre Zambo Anguissa looking to put pressure on Ismael Bennacer and Franck Kessie in the Scudetto race.

AdvertisementGetty.Thomas Partey

Arsenal’s five-game winning run was halted on Wednesday as Liverpool secured a 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium.

Partey and his colleagues will look to avoid successive losses when they travel to Aston Villa and keep their Top Four aspirations on track.

Mikel Arteta’s team have lost on their last two visits to Villa Park and Gerard's team will back themselves to make it three wins on the trot against the Gunners on their own turf.

Getty ImagesThe FA Cup

There is plenty of African interest in the quarter-finals with several interesting ties in the last eight.

Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha, Jordan Ayew, Cheick Kouyate and Jeffrey Schlupp look to get the better of Alex Iwobi's Everton, while Mohammed Salisu and Riyad Mahrez face off when Southampton host Manchester City.

In the other two ties, giant-killing Middlesbrough chase a third straight scalp when Hakim Ziyech and Edouard Mendy come to town, while Liverpool’s African contingent hope to avoid defeat at Nottingham Forest and keep their quadruple hopes alive.

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Getty ImagesKoulibaly & Anguissa

Napoli’s 2-1 win over Cagliari last week meant they kept pace with AC Milan at the top of Serie A and they host Udinese on Saturday looking for their ninth win at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Kalidou Koulibaly and Andre Zambo Anguissa are expected to feature for the whose home record has been rather hit and miss this term.

Luciano Spalletti’s team are winless in their last two home games, so a return to winning ways will be timely with Milan only three points ahead.

The Champions League sees Neymar, Mbappe and Cavani of PSG face Liverpool's Salah, Mane and Firmino – are they among the best triumvirates ever?

GettyMSN

Neymar may have broken up Barcelona's band of brothers last season when he fled to France after a shock €222 million move to Paris Saint-Germain, but the legend of the MSN partnership will live on.

With the brilliant Brazilian lining up in attack alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, the Blaugrana won the Champions League, Club World Cup and La Liga (twice), tearing defences to shreds with their incredible pace, skill and movement

AdvertisementGetty ImagesBBC

While MSN was forming at Camp Nou, Real Madrid saw their own attacking triumvirate become an institution within the Spanish capital.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who has since moved to Juventus, was the undisputed star of the show but the addition of Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema added more blistering pace, power and, of course, goals to a forward line that fired the Blancos to four Champions League triumphs in five years.

Getty ImagesBBC2

Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini formed a formidable defence in front of legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon as Juventus set about re-establishing themselves as a major European force.

Together, the BBC provided the foundation on which the Bianconeri's resurgence was founded, helping the Old Lady win six successive Scudetti before Bonucci departed for AC Milan last year only to return this summer.

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GettyAC Milan's Dutch gold

The arrival of Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit at San Siro in 1987 proved instrumental in AC Milan winning a first Serie A title in nine years, but the signing of Frank Rijkaard propelled the Rossoneri to glory on a world stage.

The Dutch trio became the stars of Arrigo Sacchi's wonderful team, helping the Italian outfit win two European Cups and two Club World Cup crowns.

Change of captaincy did little to change the fortunes of Karachi Kings as they went down by nine wickets to Islamabad United in the PSL eliminator at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Feb-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsChange of captaincy did little to change the fortunes of Karachi Kings as they went down by nine wickets to Islamabad United in the PSL eliminator at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday.A top-order wobble proved too costly as they slipped and slid to a below par 111 for 9 after being sent in to bat. Islamabad lost Sharjeel Khan early, but two of their experienced overseas professionals – Dwayne Smith and Brad Haddin – made light work of the target, winning with 34 balls to spare. Along the way, they also sounded out a note of caution for Peshawar Zalmi, their next opponent, ahead of the grand finale.That only three Karachi batsmen managed to get into double digits summed up the plight of the side that was led by Ravi Bopara after Shoaib Malik stepped down as captain on match eve.That Karachi were lifted out of the hole they found themselves in at 39 for 4 was courtesy Bopara, who top-scored with a fighting 37 before Mohammad Sami scythed through the lower order to finish with incredible figures of 5 for 8 off his four overs.Sohail Khan gave Karachi a boost upfront as Sharjeel fell for 9 in the fourth over, but Smith, playing in only his second PSL game, drove the chase forward in Haddin’s company; the former Australia wicketkeeper playing the role of an aggressor, hitting an unbeaten 52 off just 29 balls courtesy four fours and three sixes. Smith finished on 50 not out as Islamabad, who began the tournament slowly, appeared to have revved up their engine when it matters the most.

Kane Williamson has officially been confirmed as New Zealand’s captain in all three formats, and later this year is set to become the 29th man to lead the country in Test cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Apr-2016Kane Williamson has officially been confirmed as New Zealand’s captain in all three formats, and later this year is set to become the 29th man to lead the country in Test cricket.Williamson was in charge at the World Twenty20 in India earlier this year and has led New Zealand in 36 matches across ODI and T20 cricket. His appointment as Test captain was a mere formality after the retirement of Brendon McCullum in February, and at a press conference in Auckland on Thursday it was confirmed that he would lead New Zealand in all three forms.”Kane has been a leader within the team for a long time now and already shown himself to be an extremely capable captain,” David White, the New Zealand Cricket CEO, said. “He’s respected by his peers and the wider cricket community for his professional approach both on and off the field, and has a superb cricket brain.”His drive to see the team succeed and his passion for the game are what you look for in a leader. He’s ready for the role and will only continue to grow.”New Zealand’s next international tour is to Africa in July-August, when they are set to play Tests in both Zimbabwe and South Africa. At 25, Williamson is expected to become the third-youngest man to captain New Zealand in Test cricket, behind Stephen Fleming and John Parker.”It’s certainly an honour. I’ve really enjoyed my time spent as captain and believe this team can achieve a lot,” Williamson, who is currently in India for the IPL, said. “I’m lucky to have a number of experienced players around me for support and will certainly look to utilise this. We’re all striving for the same thing and that’s to represent New Zealand with pride and win cricket games.””I’ve certainly learnt a lot from Brendon, as has everyone who has played with him. The culture that he and Mike [Hesson, the coach] have cultivated has been a huge part of this team’s success in recent times. We not only have good players, but good people too and that certainly makes any captain’s job easier.”

The ECB will establish a groundbreaking tournament next summer when it launches a new women’s domestic T20 competition. The Women’s Super League will abandon the traditional county structure and comprise six teams

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jun-20150:39

Women’s Cricket Super League to be launched in England

The ECB will establish a groundbreaking tournament next summer when it launches a new women’s domestic T20 competition.The Women’s Super League will abandon the traditional county structure and comprise six teams.Potential team hosts will be invited to show an “expression of interest’, a process that will start formally this month, and consideration will be given to bodies outside the current county structure with the ECB saying that “any cricket-minded organisations will be able to submit a proposal to become a host.”The successful candidates will be confirmed by the end of the year.During its first season, the Women’s Super League will be comprised solely of T20 cricket and sit alongside the Royal London Women’s One-Day County Cup and NatWest Women’s County Twenty20 competitions. From 2017 onwards the structure will develop to both T20 and 50-over formats.The ECB is investing £3 million over the first four years of the tournament and believes that the competition will:*Develop higher standards for the England team with greater competition for places and creating more experienced players.*Inspire more women and girls to play cricket at all levels by offering new opportunities, a new narrative for the game, and new role models.*Create more opportunities to play through a network of host clubs linked to their communities.*Increase commercial support and broadcast coverage.The Minister for Sport, Tracey Crouch, was quick to offer support, saying: “”This is a huge step forward for women’s sport, providing female athletes with a platform to showcase their skills. It is also a great opportunity to further grow the game, inspiring a whole new generation of women to take up cricket.”The women’s game in England has made massive strides towards full professionalism in the past two years. In 2013, the ECB followed Cricket Australia’s lead in awarding central contracts to the national squad, allowing players to turn fully professional for the first time.A year later the ECB struck a deal with car manufacturer Kia which secured standalone sponsorship of England Women.Cricket Australia has also announced plans for a revamped domestic T20 league, with a Women’s Big Bash League to run in conjunction with the men’s tournament in December and January.Three England players – Charlotte Edwards, Heather Knight and Sarah Taylor – all played in Australia’s domestic competitions during the English winter.Now, with the advent of fully supported T20 competitions in both hemispheres, the incentives and rewards for female professional cricketer have dramatically increased.The £3m investment will help each team to improve coaching standards and community engagement plans, support a marketing campaign and, for the first time in domestic women’s cricket in England, offer prize money.Tom Harrison, ECB chief executive, heralded a “major step for the women’s game in England.”He said: “We are already very proud of the achievements of the England women’s team and the growth of the game for women and girls over the past decade.”We now have the opportunity to build on this, inspiring more women and girls to take part and offering players a domestic structure that gives the best cricketers the chance to play against each other in the most competitive environment.Women’s cricket is changing for Charlotte Edwards (left) and Clare Connor•Getty Images”The new Women’s Cricket Super League will take standards to a new level and show more women and girls the opportunities that cricket can give.”Clare Connor, ECB director of England women’s cricket, called the league “the next stage in the evolution of women’s cricket in this country” and said it would be a catalyst to increase female participation.”Last year brought the introduction of central contracts for 18 England women’s players and a significant commercial deal,” she said. “Now, through the Women’s Cricket Super League, we will create high-performance training and competition environments, which will constantly challenge our very best players and drive the sustained success of our England team.”We also have the chance to invite the world’s finest players into the Women’s Cricket Super League to drive ever higher standards.

At the Oval 3351 days ago, Kevin Pietersen arrived at the crease with the Ashes at stake. His first ball, from Glenn McGrath, was nasty, brutish and short

Tim Wigmore at Kia Oval03-Jun-2015
ScorecardA quiet finish? Kevin Pietersen is unlikely to play in whites again•PA PhotosAt the Oval 3351 days ago, Kevin Pietersen arrived at the crease with the Ashes at stake. His first ball, from Glenn McGrath, was nasty, brutish and short. Pietersen looked like he got his gloves and bat out the way, but he, a heaving crowd and millions distracted in offices and schools, had to endure a few painful seconds before Billy Bowden turned down the vociferous Australian appeal.They were worth it. As England tried to regain the Ashes after 18 years marked not just by defeat but frequent humiliation, Pietersen took to saving the game in the only way he knew how. He attacked. And then he attacked some more, slog-sweeping Shane Warne and launching a staggering assault on Brett Lee.A decade on, and Pietersen’s team were again batting in the third innings on the final day. There the similarities ended. Instead of Australia, they had to face a worthy Lancashire attack neutered by a docile pitch. The ground, a sell-out then, seemed rather desolate now. Pietersen was not even needed to bat. Zafar Ansari and Rory Burns batted with such assurance that 61 overs did not yield a single chance.One innings, two runs and three balls over four days added up to a deeply unsatisfactory way for Pietersen to end his involvement in first-class cricket. The fact that Pietersen will not play in Surrey’s next Championship match, against Leicestershire at Grace Road on Sunday, makes it highly likely he will never play red-ball cricket again. He will, however, play for Surrey in their T20 game at Arundel next week just before heading to the Caribbean Premier League.This was not the first-class comeback Pietersen envisaged. Buoyed by comments from Colin Graves that he could yet be considered for Test cricket again, Pietersen surprised Surrey and everyone else by announcing his intention to return to County Championship cricket. Instead of earning £250,000 for an IPL stint, Pietersen preferred to play for Surrey for free instead.He believed his chances of an England recall would be determined solely by the amount of runs he scored in county cricket. So he scored plenty.Having endured a grim spell in T20 cricket for Surrey last year, there were legitimate concerns over whether Pietersen could still score heavily in Championship cricket. One hundred and seventy runs against Oxford MCCU, even in a non first-class match, amounted to an awesome indication of intent. A half-century followed against Glamorgan before that astounding unbeaten 355 against Leicestershire.None of this, it is true, amounted to irrefutable evidence that Pietersen was ready to take on Australia and their Mitchells. But Andrew Strauss, the new director of England cricket, was in no mood to give him the chance. On the day of his triple century against Leicestershire, Pietersen was informed that he would never be allowed to add to his 8181 Test runs.Alec Stewart, the Surrey director of cricket, did not want to say Pietersen would never pull on whites again. “What I’m saying is ‘it’s not the end’,” he said. “I’m not saying ‘that’s it, the door’s shut’. It’s always open here for him. At the same time, we’ll have discussions to see what fits for us and what fits for him.””The arrangement was very much while Colin Graves – whether he did or he didn’t – intimated that perhaps that door was open for him, that’s why we have see him back playing county cricket again. Before that, his England career was well and truly dead.”Then, whatever the perception of what Colin had said, it meant that the door had been pushed open a little bit – play county cricket and score runs, which he did. Then it was shut.”But, to Surrey’s surprise, he still wanted to play this game against Lancashire. Perhaps he imagined that a repeat of that innings against Leicestershire would unleash a tidal wave of public pressure, leaving Strauss facing what even Sepp Blatter could not ignore.It was not to be. Still, no one at Surrey speaks ill of him. Over six seasons, Pietersen has played 13 first-class games for Surrey. Each appearance has been marked by the unstinting professionalism that has been a hallmark, albeit one too easily forgotten, of his career. Pietersen’s record for Surrey – 1395 runs at 93 apiece – is testament to as much.”We didn’t expect to see him again,” Stewart said. “We’ve had a good relationship with him here, and he said ‘I’m available if you want me to play’. I said ‘we’ll have you straightaway’. That’s the relationship we have here.”He has gone above and beyond the original verbal arrangement. It was great that he wanted to play, and it shows that he has respect for us and the dressing room here. We have good respect for him too.”He’s not just a player who pulls on an England shirt and does it. He has huge self-respect and self pride, but pride in playing for Surrey. The record he’s got in the games he’s played in the last three or four years is unbelievable. He’s been a credit to himself when he’s played for Surrey. We want good players, but we want good people, whether it’s a Pietersen or a Sangakkara. In our dressing room, he’s been that.”If this was not the farewell Pietersen envisaged, perhaps it was apt that Ashley Giles, Lancashire’s director of cricket, was there. Together, the two had shared the partnership that secured the Ashes that resplendent day a decade ago.”I’ve got very fond memories of playing with Kev and probably here most – that last day in the Ashes in 2005 we batted together for about three hours,” Giles said. “Memories don’t get any better than that. He’s been a terrific player and a very good servant to the game.””He’s a different player, a clear match-winning player. For someone to do what he did here a couple of weeks ago – go out and get 350 when he’s having that meeting that night shows the class of the man.””There’s an element of sadness if he doesn’t play first-class cricket again, because he’s a special player.”Surely that is something that even Pietersen’s most vehement detractors could not dispute. For one of the most intoxicating cricketers of the 21st century, the strong likelihood is that only domestic T20 – in Australia, the Caribbean, India and perhaps sometimes England too – remains.

Azhar Mahmood has signed on for another season of T20 with Surrey

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Feb-2015Azhar Mahmood has signed on for another season of T20 with Surrey. The former Pakistan allrounder, who is the fifth-highest wicket-taker in T20 history, will not count as an overseas player due to his British citizenship.Mahmood played every game for Surrey in last year’s revamped NatWest T20 Blast, with matches played mostly on Friday evenings through the summer, helping them to Finals Day for the second consecutive year. In 2013 he was part of the team that were beaten to the FLt20 trophy by Northamptonshire.”I’m really excited to be back playing again for Surrey in front of packed crowds at the Kia Oval in this year’s T20 competition. I can’t wait for the NatWest T20 Blast to begin,” Mahmood said.Surrey’s director of cricket, Alec Stewart, added: “We’re delighted to have Azhar on board again for this season’s T20 Blast campaign. To have his wealth of experience and skill levels is a huge bonus.”

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes there is “no doubt at all” that Steven Smith should take over from Michael Clarke as the team’s next ODI leader

Gaurav Kalra29-Mar-2015Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes there is “no doubt at all” that Steven Smith should take over from Michael Clarke as the team’s next ODI leader. Clarke retired from one-day cricket after leading Australia to victory in the World Cup final against New Zealand in Melbourne.In the past, George Bailey has often filled in as captain during Clarke’s absence, and even led Australia in their tournament opener against England. However, Bailey, who has captained Australia to 16 wins and 10 defeats in his 29 matches in-charge, lost his place in the playing eleven once Clarke retained full fitness.”I am a huge George Bailey fan, we have played a lot of state cricket together,” Ponting told ESPNcricinfo. “He’s also been a great leader, but this guy, Smith, is just in the prime of his career right now. He is playing beautifully, and it looks like he has sewn down the No.3 batting spot, potentially even in the Test team. With Clarke making the decision to retire from one-day cricket, you would think he’s only got a couple of years of Test cricket left in him, so Smith should be serving as one-day captain to be totally ready to take over the Test job when Michael finishes.”Clarke bid a teary goodbye to a record crowd at the MCG after top-scoring in the final with 74 off 72 balls to ensure there were no wobbles in Australia’s pursuit of a small target. Praising his successor in the job for his “terrific record” over the years, Ponting said Clarke would have dearly enjoyed being out in the middle when the winning runs were scored.”The way he batted was a terrific way for him to finish,” Ponting said. “The New Zealanders decided to attack him early so he had a lot of open field where he could score from freely. He got through the initial 15-20 balls, then expanded his game and he would have loved to be not out at the end.”Walk off the ground as the winning captain, maybe hitting the winning runs, but it wasn’t meant to be. He’s done a great job with the leadership of this team and you only have to look at his record. It’s a terrific effort by him.”Ricky Ponting – “Smith is just in the prime of his career right now. He should be serving as one-day captain to be totally ready to take over the Test job when Michael finishes”•Getty ImagesPonting, who played in three World Cup winning finals, also believes Australia have the building blocks in place to dominate one-day cricket in the years to come. He credited Clarke and coach Darren Lehmann for ensuring the balance of the squad was “spot on” going into the tournament.”It’s probably a better team than we give it credit for right now,” he said. “Probably because it’s a young team that’s developing we probably don’t know just how good a team this is. I’ve sat back and looked at this one-day team over the last couple of years and it’s a very good team.”Only a couple of months ago, Johnson was the standout fast bowler in the world and all of a sudden, we’re not even taking about him anymore, we are talking about Mitchell Starc. Every one of the allrounders could get themselves picked in one format. James Faulkner will get himself picked as a bowler, Shane Watson as a batter and Glenn Maxwell also as a batter.”There’s a few senior heads, Clarke bowing out, Haddin probably has some decisions to make around his one-day future, Mitchell Johnson would probably not be around for the next World Cup. Every successful Australian team that I have been part of has been a mix of youth and experience and this one is no different. There were some very exuberant youngsters in that side like Smith, Maxwell, Starc and Hazlewood. The balance has been spot on.”Looking back on the final, Ponting said Brendon Mcullum’s dismissal for duck in the first over, and the quick wickets of Ross Taylor, Corey Anderson and Luke Ronchi early in the batting Powerplay were the decisive phases of the game.”The first over with Starc knocking over McCullum, if you look at the way he executed those first three balls, they were three yorkers that were right on the money.”Then at the start of the Powerplay when New Zealand had just fought their way back into the game, at that time Faulkner gets back to back wickets, Starc gets Ronchi in the next over and all of a sudden all the momentum the Kiwis had was completely taken away from them.”Ponting also lavished praise on Faulkner, who became the fifth Australian and the third from Tasmania to win a Man-of-the-Match award in a World Cup final. David Boon won the honour in 1987 for top-scoring in the final against England, and Ponting himself picked up the award in 2003, for his decimation for India with a memorable hundred.”Faulkner is a very competitive person,” Ponting said. “It sums up his character in that Powerplay. He is one guy who doesn’t go running away from a Powerplay, he wants the ball in his hand, and he wants to compete. It was a terrific result for him today and you look back at the end of your career, there are only a few Man-of-the-Match performances that are memorable, and if it happens in a World Cup final that’s something you can always be proud of.”

A 23-innings century-less run has left Alviro Petersen as the man squinting into the spotlight’s glare in the build-up to South Africa’s Test series against West Indies, but the focus is slowly shifting to the other opener, Dean Elgar

Firdose Moonda14-Dec-2014A 23-innings century-less run has left Alviro Petersen as the man squinting into the spotlight’s glare in the build-up to South Africa’s Test series against West Indies, but the focus is slowly shifting to the other opener, Dean Elgar. The left-hander, who took over from Graeme Smith at the top of the order, has only had four of his 12 Tests in that position and is trying to establish himself in the spot against the backdrop of what he called his “toughest” season to date.Elgar moved from Knights to Titans, which meant that for the first time in his career, he is based outside the franchise where he learnt his game and he has found the going tough. Titans are suffering a poor season, having finished last in the 20-over competition after winning just two of their five one-day cup matches and losing the first-class opener. By implication, that has left Elgar with limited opportunity to score runs, although he fared well in the shortest format where he averaged 42.60 in six innings.”This is my ninth season and it’s the toughest I have had domestically – not personally but just from the external factors that influence a franchise,” Elgar said. “When you come to a franchise and you’ve got a bit of a name and been around and played Test cricket, you think you should just fit in and make every side. But that’s one of the reasons I’ve made the change – I’m getting out of my comfort zone. In Bloemfontein I would have played every game and maybe have captained the Knights. But it wasn’t about that. It was about making me a better player, challenging myself to make every team for the Titans.”Elgar did not play in Titans’ last three T20 matches, as they searched for a way to turn their fortunes around, and used the time off to re-energise. “I’ve had about three weeks off and I didn’t touch my bat for that period,” he said. “I was getting myself over what has happened in the T20 campaign and what can happen in the Test scenario. My mind is fresh because I’ve done everything but cricket. I’m ready to go.”Mental preparation is crucial for Elgar because the first Test in Centurion will only be the second time he will open in a Test at home. It is only expected to be the spiciest surface of the three, where opening the batting will be most difficult. “I have done it for eight years in first-class cricket in South Africa so maybe in that sense, I am accustomed to the conditions and I know what’s expected of the wicket,” Elgar said.Although he admitted the pitch will work to the South African pace packs’ advantage, he said there will be enough in it for batsmen who are willing to show patience. “SuperSport Park provides a wicket that if you bowl well, you will get rewarded and if you bat well and apply yourself you will score runs. That’s what our guys do the best in the world,” he said. “The wicket compliments our bowlers because there is extra bounce and a little bit of extra pace behind the ball but the batters seem to enjoy batting here. If you apply yourself and get your mind around batting for a long time, you can do well here.”There is enough evidence to support Elgar’s claim. Centurion is where Jacques Kallis scored his first double-hundred and where Sachin Tendulkar scored his 50th Test century. Neither of those players are playing international cricket anymore and South Africa are still coming to terms with the loss of Kallis and Smith. “That era has come to an end now,” Elgar said. “The guys who are in the team appreciate what has happened and are mature and professional enough to understand that it’s the time for another opening pair to start things out.”That means both Elgar and Petersen will be expected to perform and like coach Russell Domingo, Elgar believes the runs waiting to flow from Petersen’s bat are about to leak out. “There’s a big one around the corner for him. I can just sense he is hungry to perform. When there is a bit of crunch on him, it brings out the best in him,” Elgar said. “I back Alviro for a big hundred and to keep the people quiet. He has done that throughout his career. He has been a guy who is under the pump most of the time and he silences guys with the bat.”