The widespread drama over Blacks being incorporated into the South Africa playing eleven and deserving whites being axed to make place for them isn’t unknown. Even former South African greats haven’t been untouched from it all: de Villiers, Greame Smith and Mark Boucher were accused of being biased against non-whites.
It only makes sense to have thought that the situation of CSA is only going to get better hereon. But it’s the exact opposite. Chris Morris had recently come out to inform that his int’l career was all but dusted. Now, their premier gloveman, de Kock- has announced his retirement from test cricket.
Quinton de Kock’s sudden retirement
Of all the possibile ways to retire, de Kock has chosen the one which makes it all appear grey-ish and forced. It comes right after the conclusion of his side’s first test against Kohli’s men. While Quinton claims that his sudden decision owes itself to family’s welfare, the abrupt end to his red-ball career is a hard pill to swallow.
Here’s what de Kock was quoted as saying in a Cricket South Africa official release:
“This is not a decision that I have come to very easily. I have taken a lot of time to think what my future looks like, what needs to take priority in my life- Now that Sasha (Quinton’s wife) and I are about to welcome our 1st child into this world and look to grow our family beyond that. My family is everything to me.”
Quinton de Kock’s statement makes total sense. However, same can’t be said about the manner in which he batted in his last red-ball outing. In both innings, he played a rash cut-shot onto his stumps. In his 54 match long test career, he was dismissed in this manner only once before.
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Interestingly, de Kock made headlines in November when he refused to take “The Knee” before RSA’s fixture versus West Indies. He was not allowed to feature in the following game and had to issue an apology for his actions. Post this, de Kock featured throughout the world cup and in latest- During Boxing Day’s Test.
But he lacked the interest and vigour. Or so it looked. One can’t be sure if his sudden test retirement is a result of the ailing cricket system in RSA or it exclusively concerns itself with the birth of his first child. Nonetheless, 29-year-old de Kock’s test career could’ve been one for the history books. But as things stand, it comes to a sudden end with 54 matches, 3300 runs and 232 dismissals under his belt. I genuinely hope that de Kock’s limited overs career continues for several more years, and that he ends up as one of the greats of the game.