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Cape Town - Proteas opening batsman Dean Elgar is excited at the prospect of playing a Boxing Day Test match at his home ground for the first Test against Pakistan at Centurion on Wednesday.
The Proteas play the first of three Test matches against Mickey Arthur's men, starting with the first at SuperSport Park on Wednesday.
Elgar, who resides in Pretoria, admitted that he thrilled to play in the historic Boxing Day Test this week.
"It's an exciting time of year, and we have a good record of late at Centurion. The Boxing Day Test is something you watch it as a kid, so to have it on your home ground, in familiar conditions, is really special," said Elgar on the Titans' Facebook page.
"A lot of subcontinent teams don't like playing here because of pace and bounce, so that is something we can exploit. We have a good record here, and we love playing here."
Injuries to key bowlers will see the Proteas make a few changes for the first Test.
Titans bowler Lungi Ngidi is out of the Test series, while seamer Vernon Philander is only expected to be fit for the second Test in Cape Town.
"It is disappointing not to have Vern and Lungi, but it is a massive opportunity for the other guys," said Elgar.
"Duanne Olivier has done very well in the Mzansi Super League, and teams don't like the extra pace he has."
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Meanwhile, veteran fast bowler Dale Steyn is on the verge of eclipsing Shaun Pollock's record (421) as the leading South African Test wicket-taker - needing one more wicket to surpass Pollock.
"He's one away, so I'm pretty sure he will get it during the 5 days," Elgar said of his fellow Titans team-mate.
Play on Wednesday is scheduled to get under way at 10:00.
Proteas Test squad:
Faf du Plessis (Titans, captain), Hashim Amla (Cape Cobras), Temba Bavuma (Highveld Lions), Theunis de Bruyn (Titans), Quinton de Kock (Titans), Dean Elgar (Titans), Zubayr Hamza (Cape Cobras), Keshav Maharaj (Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Titans), Duanne Olivier (Knights), Vernon Philander (Cape Cobras), Kagiso Rabada (Highveld Lions), Dale Steyn (Titans), Dane Paterson (Cape Cobras)
Pakistan tour to SA 2018/19
December 26-30: 10h00, 1st Test match, SuperSport Park, Centurion
January 3-7: 10h30, 2nd Test match, Newlands, Cape Town
January 11-15: 10h00, 3rd Test match, Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
January 19: 13h00, 1st ODI, St. George's Park, Port Elizabeth (D/N)
January 22: 13h00, 2nd ODI, Kingsmead, Durban (D/N)
January 25: 13h00, 3rd ODI, SuperSport Park, Centurion (D/N)
January 27: 10h00, 4th ODI, Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg (Day)
January 30: 13h00, 5th ODI, Newlands, Cape Town (D/N)
February 1: 18h00, 1st T20 International, Newlands, Cape Town (D/N)
February 3: 14h30, 2nd T20 International, Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg (Day)
February 6: 18h00, 3rd T20 International, SuperSport Park, Centurion (D/N)
"To have it on your home ground, in familiar conditions, is really special." @deanelgar is relishing the prospect of the first-ever Boxing Day Test at SuperSport Park. #SAvPAK #ProteaFire
— The Titans (@Titans_Cricket) December 24, 2018
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