Quinton de Kock ruled out of one-off Test against Zimbabwe

South African wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock will not be taking further part in the one-off day-night Test against Zimbabwe after injuring a hamstring while batting on Tuesday. De Kock did not take the field for the second day’s play on Wednesday, with AB de Villiers resuming the wicket-keeping role.

A statement from Cricket South Africa said scans had revealed a low-grade hamstring strain which would keep him out of the rest of the match. However, South Africa are confident that de Kock will recover in time for the first Test against India after scans confirmed no more than a low-grade hamstring strain.

De Kock picked up the problem while batting on Tuesday (December 26) and was unable to take the field after South Africa had declared their innings on 309/9 in the final session, forcing AB de Villiers to take the gloves. Eventually, concerns grew over the extent of his injury. But while scans on Wednesday morning effectively ruled him out of the remainder of the four-day Test against Zimbabwe, his participation in the India series, which begins on January 5 at Newlands, is not thought to be in doubt.

Continue to receive treatment

“He will continue to receive treatment with the physio but won’t take the field for the rest of the match,” a CSA spokesperson said, as reported by Cricbuzz. “The medical team is confident he’ll recover in time for the first match against India.”

De Villiers continued to keep wickets on the second day, which saw Zimbabwe resume their innings on 30 for 4. De Kock will stay with the team to have treatment from the team physiotherapist and it was expected he would be fit for the first Test against India which is set to commence on January 5 at Cape Town.

Worst case scenario if de Kock does not deliver in time, then Titans wicket-keeper Heinrich Klaasen would appear to be the likeliest replacement. Klaasen toured New Zealand as de Kock’s back-up in March but was not required in England.

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