Dean Elgar has decided to hang up his boots at the conclusion of the Test series against India, calling time on a 12-year-long international career that began in 2012.

Dean Elgar announces decision to retire after Test series against India

Over the years, Elgar made a name for himself in the longest format of the game as a gritty Test opener. In 84 Tests so far, the southpaw has scored 5146 runs which include 13 centuries and 23 fifties.

As Elgar approaches his swansong, we revisit his five best innings in Test cricket:

103* vs New Zealand (2013, Gqeberha)

Before Elgar became an all-conquering Test opener, he was forced to grind it out in the middle-order given South Africa's riches at the top of the batting line-up at the time. His Test career couldn't have gotten off to a worse start – on debut against Australia in 2012, Elgar registered a pair of ducks.

But the batter displayed tremendous perseverance upon his return home with a century at No.7 against New Zealand in just his third Test match.

Walking in to bat at 336/5, Elgar stitched a solid 131-run stand with Faf du Plessis. The left-handed batter was on 68 when du Plessis fell but showed great character to bat with the tail. With a four to take him to a century, Elgar announced himself to the world.

South Africa declared as soon as Elgar hit the milestone and the bowlers ensured that the Proteas did not have to bat again. Dale Steyn picked up eight wickets in total, including a five-for in the first innings, as South Africa walloped home by an innings and 193 runs.

127 vs Australia (2016, Perth)

Four years after a horror debut, Elgar returned to Perth in Australia and managed to redeem himself with a match-winning ton in the very first Test.

The match hung in the balance after both teams batted once each, with the hosts managing only a two-run lead. South Africa were 45/2 when Elgar and JP Duminy got together and with a massive 250-run stand, changed the complexion of the game.

Elgar showed great discipline during his 316-ball stay at the crease, defending the good balls and putting away the bad ones to accumulate 127 runs, which included 17 fours and a maximum.

South Africa declared at 540/8, setting a target of 539 for Australia. In reply, the hosts managed only 361 with Kagiso Rabada's five-for blowing them away. The Proteas went on to win the series 2-1 with an innings victory in the next Test.

141* vs Australia (2018, Cape Town)

Elgar continued his love affair with the Australian bowling, this time with a gritty century in the first innings of the third Test. He carried his bat for the third time in his career to equal Desmond Haynes, a record that the two still hold to this day.

It was a test of patience for the Proteas opener as he kept losing partners at the other end on the opening day of the match. Only three other batters got to double-digit scores as Australia, led by Pat Cummins' four-for, ran through the Proteas batting order.

Elgar, though, was determined at one end and remained unbeaten on 141 as South Africa were bowled out for 311. The knock eventually proved to be the difference between the two sides as Australia slipped to 255 in response.

The hosts added 373 in the second innings and bowled Australia out for 107, recording a massive 322-run win. The victory helped South Africa complete a comeback from 1-0 down to 2-1 as they went on to win the fourth Test to register another series victory over Australia.

160 vs India (2019, Visakhapatnam)

Considered one of the better knocks of his career, Elgar showcased his adaptability to all conditions against the likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Shami with a brilliant 160.

Opting to bat first, India declared after posting 502/7. South Africa were in trouble early on at 63/4 before Elgar teamed up with du Plessis to arrest the collapse with a 115-run stand. The opening batter then added another vital 164 runs for the sixth wicket with Quinton de Kock, with the pair scoring a century.

The century, the 12th of his career, was laced with 18 fours and four sixes as Elgar mixed caution with aggression to counter India's potent bowling attack. South Africa finished with 431 runs but India's batting and bowling in the second half of the Test proved too strong for the visitors as they slipped to a 203-run defeat.

96* vs India (2022, Johannesburg)

Trailing 1-0 in the series as a captain, Elgar and South Africa had their backs against the walls needing 240 in the fourth innings to keep the series alive.

South Africa got off to a great start with Aiden Markran's aggressive strokeplay adding 47 runs for the opening wicket. In a repeat of the first innings, Elgar and Keegan Petersen strung together yet another stubborn partnership to keep India at bay.

At stumps on Day 3, South Africa were 118/2 but it was far from smooth sailing with Indian pacers peppering the batters with a barrage of short balls. Elgar and Rassie van der Dussen took body blows but ensured South Africa did not lose any more wickets.

“They do not seem to get me out when they hit me, so I guess they should stop hitting me,” quipped Elgar at the end of the Test.

Rain washed out much of day 4 with only 34 overs of play possible. But with Elgar at the crease, South Africa needed only 27.4 overs to level the series. It was fitting that Elgar hit the winning runs as the hosts inflicted the first-ever defeat on India at the Wanderers in Test cricket to level the series 1-1.