Proteas opener to feature in early part of county season after Mitch Marsh's planned stint was scuppered by injury
Elgar to replace Marsh at Surrey
Surrey have confirmed South Africa opener Dean Elgar will replace Australia allrounder Mitch Marsh as their overseas player for the early part of the English county season.
Marsh was forced to pull out of a planned stint with the London-based club earlier this month due to an ankle injury.
The dogged Elgar has risen to become one of the most effective Test openers in the world, currently sitting eighth on the International Cricket Council's batting rankings.
The left-hander has struck 11 Test tons, most recently carrying his bat to post an unbeaten 141 against Australia in Cape Town amid the third-Test ball-tampering scandal.
"I am really grateful for the opportunity to be back at Surrey for the start of the summer," Elgar said.
"I hope to contribute for the period I am at the club, on and off the field, and I'm looking forward to seeing all involved at the great club again."
Elgar will be available for the first two months of the season, excluding a match against Worcestershire in May due to a pre-existing commitment. It will be his second stint with the club after a spell with the side in 2015.
"Given the news that Mitch Marsh will need ankle surgery, to be able to bring someone of Dean's calibre to the club, at such short notice, for the first period of the season is a real bonus," Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart told the club's website.
"We know Dean well after his time with us in 2015, and his international quality and experience will be a real asset."
Elgar will join fellow Protea Morne Morkel at The Oval, with the fast bowler signing on for a two-year Kolpak deal just weeks after his retirement from the international arena.
South Africans are able to play in England as local players under the Kolpak ruling, a 2003 European Court of Justice decision, but it prevents them from playing international cricket for South Africa.
Surrey is coached by former Australia batting coach Michael DiVenuto, and has signed the likes of Ricky Ponting, Graeme Smith and Kumar Sangakkarra in recent years. They play their home games at The Oval.
The club has been linked with batting maestro Virat Kohli, who is set to lead India on a five-Test tour of England later this year.
Leading this season's 16-man Australian contingent in the UK is Shaun Marsh (Glamorgan), the only member of the Test squad that lost in South Africa who will be present for the beginning of the English domestic season.
Other Australians looking to make their mark early in the English domestic season are Peter Siddle (Essex), Hilton Cartwright (Middlesex), Travis Head (Worcestershire), Joe Mennie (Lancashire) and Daniel Worrall (Gloucestershire).
New signings Hashim Amla (Hampshire), Ross Taylor (Nottinghamshire) and Cheteshwar Pujara (Yorkshire) are all set to begin stints with their respective county sides when the opening round of four-day games get underway on Friday.
Other international stars Dale Steyn (Hampshire), Kane Williamson (Yorkshire) and Neil Wagner (Essex) will also make appearances of varying lengths later in the northern summer.