Quinton de Kock to be launched from ‘burden’ of Test captaincy after Pakistan sequence

Proteas coach Mark Boucher on Wednesday stated Quinton de Kock might be launched from the burden of Test captaincy after the Pakistan tour however there may be nonetheless time to make that decision following Australia’s “disappointing and disruptive” choice to postpone their tour of South Africa.
Following the completion of the Pakistan sequence, South Africa doesn’t have any Test cricket arising within the subsequent 9 months after Australia on Tuesday determined to postpone their tour citing “unacceptable health and safety risk” in that nation due to a contemporary COVID-19 outbreak.
“When we get back after this tour we’ve got a bit of time before our next Test series so we can sit down and make a good, solid call on who can take over from him and release him from that burden and try and get the best out of him,” Boucher stated on the eve of the ultimate Test right here.
De Kock, who was handed the Test captaincy on a short lived foundation for the 2020-21 summer time, hasn’t been in good type, scoring simply 15 and a couple of within the two innings as they suffered a seven-wicket loss within the first Test in opposition to Pakistan.
“It’s been tough on Quinny. If you’re not scoring runs it gets highlighted, especially if you’re a captain,” Boucher was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
“We’re not that harsh on Quinny in this environment. We know that he’s a quality player and there’s a good innings around the corner for him. He has been given the extra burden of being captain and that can be tough and something he’s not used to.”
Australia have obtained numerous flak for suspending their tour with former England cricketers Michael Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen questioning their choice.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) too had slammed their Australian counterparts for suspending the Test tour, saying it’s “extremely” disappointing and can result in “serious financial loss”.
Boucher stated “it’s no different for the players.”
“I know there was a lot of planning going into the Australian tour back home. We haven’t really been a part of that, but it seems a lot of goalposts were being moved for that particular tour, for Australia,” Boucher stated.
“For example, the one positive that came out of the bubble against Sri Lanka was the hotel that we stayed at (Irene County Club). We thought it was a great hotel for us as South Africans. It suits our needs and the cultural way that we are, being outdoors.”
“And we even surrendered that to Australia. There’s probably a feeling that we were laying down the red carpet for Australia, which is frustrating at times. After all of that, it’s very disappointing and disruptive to our plans going forward.”
South Africa are additionally scheduled to play three T20Is starting February 11 in opposition to Pakistan and so they had already deliberate to ship their Test gamers after the second Test, protecting in thoughts the quarantine guidelines forward of the Australia sequence.
A second-string South Africa squad additionally arrived in Pakistan for the T20 sequence however South Africa will proceed with their unique plan of sending few Test gamers and help employees house.
“Myself, (bowling coach) Charl Langveldt and (media manager) Sipokazi Sokanyile will be staying over and looking after the T20 squad. It’s not ideal,” Boucher stated.
“There’s been numerous planning that’s gone into the 2 excursions, and going again and quarantining for Australia. So the planning was all there.
“We were told at a very late moment that this wasn’t going to happen. It’s difficult for us to suddenly turn around when there’s a T20 series around the corner.”