Quinton de Kock, the South African wicketkeeper-batsman, has taken the cricket world by surprise with his decision to retire from One Day International (ODI) cricket after the 2023 World Cup. Despite this announcement, De Kock will be back in action for the national team during the upcoming ODI series against Australia, which begins this Thursday.
The 30-year-old has been a dedicated contributor to South African cricket, particularly in the shorter formats of the game. As a left-handed batsman, he has scored an impressive 5,966 runs in 140 ODIs, boasting an average of 44.85, including 17 centuries, with a highest score of 178.
It’s probable that he will maintain his presence in T20I cricket, where he has amassed 2,277 runs in 80 matches, averaging 32.52, and maintaining a striking rate of 137.33. De Kock made his exit from Test cricket in December 2021 following the 1st Test against India in that series, citing a desire to allocate more time to his family.
In the realm of international red-ball cricket, the left-handed batsman compiled 3,300 runs from 54 Test matches, maintaining an average of 38.52 and recording six centuries.
“We understand his decision”- Enoch Nkwe’s thoughts regarding Quinton de Kock
Enoch Nkwe, the director of cricket at Cricket South Africa (CSA), has expressed their respect for the former captain’s choice to retire from this format and has recognized his significant impact on their sport.
Nkwe said: “Quinton de Kock has been a really good servant to South African cricket. He set the benchmark with his attacking batting style and was a key member of the squad for a number of years.”
“He also wore the captain’s armband and that is an honour that very few people get to hold. We understand his decision to step back from ODI cricket and we want to thank him for his service over the years. We wish him well for the future but still look forward to seeing him represent the Proteas in T20I cricket,” he concluded.
Under the leadership of Temba Bavuma, South Africa has finalized its 15-player roster for the 2023 World Cup and is set to kick off their tournament by facing Sri Lanka on October 7th in Delhi.
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