Dean Elgar, a former South African opener, has joined Essex after retiring from international duty, the English county said on Friday.
Elgar retired from international cricket earlier this month after 86 Tests and over 5,000 runs for the Proteas.
His final international performance came last week, when he captained the Proteas to a seven-wicket loss to India in Cape Town in a game that lasted only 642 balls – the shortest completed match in Test history.
The left-handed hitter won the English County Championship with Surrey in 2018 and has also played for Somerset, with whom he has been linked again.
He will replace the vacuum left by former England captain Alastair Cook’s departure at the end of last season at Essex.
“I’m thrilled to embark on this new chapter of my cricketing journey with Essex,” Elgar said on Friday after signing a three-year contract with the team.
“The club have been pushing for honours in recent years and I’m eager to contribute to further success.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my previous experiences in county cricket and I’m really looking forward to joining up with the squad ahead of the season.”
Last season, Essex finished second in the County Championship to Surrey.
“He has had an outstanding career in Test cricket and has demonstrated to the world his desire to score runs at the highest level, right up until he retired,” Essex head coach Anthony McGrath remarked.
“His achievements in the international arena speak volumes about his capabilities and we are excited to witness his impact at Essex.”
