 On 23 March, 2018, he carried the bat for the third time in his test career scoring an unbeaten 141 against Australia when South Africa was bowled out for 311 in the first innings of the 3rd test, equalling the record with Desmond Haynes of West Indies.With this achievement, he also became the only batsman to carry his bat in an innings of a test match twice in a single calendar year.Elgar stood in for regular Test captain Faf du Plessis when he missed the first Test against England in 2017, following the birth of his first child.