Crucial Quinny plays down injury fears
The Proteas' prolific wicketkeeper left the field late during the second ODI against Sri Lanka, not a sight supporters want to see with no obvious replacement present.
South Africa’s wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock breaks the stumps to run out Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis during the second one day international (ODI) cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at The Supersport Stadium in Pretoria on March 6, 2019. (Photo by Christiaan Kotze / AFP)
Quinton de Kock has calmed fears about his fitness with the World Cup looming after he left the field in the later stages of the second ODI against Sri Lanka in Centurion on Wednesday night.
The Proteas’ prolific wicketkeeper-batsman starred once again with a magnificent 94 off just 70 balls in his side’s 113-run victory.
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However, the unheralded David Miller took over glove duties as South Africa completed their charge to the win.
“Nah, it’s all good. Don’t worry,” De Kock said after being asked about his fitness.
“My finger was just getting a little bit sore. So I came off to put some ice on it. It’s just the usual finger job. As a keeper, you’re always going to experience some wear and tear, get a blow to the finger.
“It’s just about me making sure I look after myself before the World Cup.”
While Miller did a competent job of deputising, Rassie van der Dussen was also seen in the build-up to the game practicing drills.
It certainly seems to suggest that the Proteas might take the gamble of just one specialist keeper to the showpiece in England.
Not that De Kock knows anything about a plan of that nature.
“Bru, I don’t know. You’re asking the wrong guy. I’m just a player,” De Kock said in a deadpan manner.
“There haven’t really been discussions about what happens in such an instance, but Dave and Rassie have been working a little bit on their keeping. That’s very much just for a case where something happens during a game.”
Speaking of finger, De Kock hailed Kagiso Rabada, who took his 100th ODI wicket and was instrumental in South Africa’s win with a hostile spell of 3/43.
“Sometimes I have enjoyed keeping to him, sometimes I haven’t,” he said jokingly.
“He gives my fingers quick a beating with that pace of his. But he also has given me a lot of dismissals. It’s always nice seeing him bowl like he did tonight. He bowled with a lot of heat. I think he scared a bit of the Sri Lankan batsmen, which is always nice to see. Congratulations to him.
“He was always going to get to a 100. He’ll probably get 300 more.”
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