IND vs SA: Quinton De Kock To Miss Part Of Home India Series Due To Paternity Leave
Published - 13 Dec 2021, 06:39 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:02 AM
Ace South Africa keeper-batter and former captain Quinton de Kock is all set to miss a part of the upcoming home series against India as he awaits the birth of his first child. India will visit South Africa in December 2021-January 2022 for a series of three Tests and three ODIs starting with the first Test match on December 26.
The last time De Kock sat out a South Africa game was at the T20 World Cup 2021, where he opted out of the second group-stage match after refusing to comply with a CSA board directive to take the knee. De Kock subsequently took a knee in the remaining three matches.
CSA has since confirmed that the national team will take a knee during the course of the summer. This test series will be the first time South Africa’s red-ball team together takes a knee after the board gave players the choice to take a knee, raise a fist, or stand to attention on their tour of the West Indies.
South Africa’s Selection Convener Victor Mpitsang Confirms Quinton De Kock Might Miss The Third Test Of The India Series
With De Kock’s wife Sasha expected to give birth in early January, it is expected that the left-hander might miss both the second and third Tests, especially given bio-bubble conditions. South Africa’s selection convener Victor Mpitsang confirmed to ESPNCricinfo that he expects de Kock “to miss the last Test”, which will leave the team without their wicketkeeper and key lower-middle-order batter.
The first Test between the two sides will begin on December 26 in Centurion, the second on January 3 in Johannesburg, and the third and final match on January 11 in Cape Town. The first two ODIs will be played in Paarl on Jan 19 and 21 and the last ODI will be played in Cape Town on Jan 23.
If De Kock leaves the secure bio-bubble environment during the second Test, it will not be possible for him to come back into the bubble by the time the third Test match starts. It is expected that either Kyle Verreynne or Ryan Rickelton will play in de Kock’s place.
Verreynne made his South Africa Test debut in West Indies recently in June in the absence of vice-captain Temba Bavuma, who was injured. He scored 39 runs in three innings. Rickelton, on the other hand, has had a better recent run. He is 10th on the first-class batting charts this season and has scored two centuries in his last three games, helping his tea, the Lions to the top of the points table.
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IND vs SA 2021 India National Cricket Team India tour of South Africa 2021 India vs South Africa 2021 Quinton de Kock South Africa National Cricket Team
