Quinton de Kock scored two hundreds during the ODIs with England © Getty Images
Quinton de Kock will not feature in the two T20s against England after South Africa’s management decided he needed a “period of rest” ahead of the World T20, because of the knee niggle he sustained earlier in the summer. He will be available for the three T20s against Australia, starting on March 4.
“Quinton has been playing a lot of cricket since the injury to his knee before the third Test match against England,” Mohammed Moosajee, South Africa’s team manager, said. “Even though he was given the all clear by the medical team at the time, we feel it is best to give the knee some rest as he is still slightly symptomatic. We need to keep in mind the upcoming ICC World T20 as well as the short turnaround of matches leading up to the tournament.”
De Kock sat out the Wanderers Test after slipping while walking his two dogs the day before the match. He later explained that he had fallen on his shin and did not think much of the incident. It was only after waking up at night in pain and with swelling in his knee that de Kock realised he had done some damage.
Dane Vilas was called in as an emergency replacement for that match but De Kock returned for Centurion, in which he scored his maiden Test hundred, and then added two more centuries in the ODIs.
Even though his return to form has been prolific, South Africa do not want to run the risk of an injury ahead of the World T20, despite the lack of game time de Kock has had in the shortest format. He did not play the T20s in India either, where AB de Villiers opened the batting and kept wicket, as he will do in this series. De Kock could still return to fill that role and force Hashim Amla out of the side.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo’s South Africa correspondent
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo