De Kock to keep the gloves

23 July 2014 - 02:01 By Telford Vice in Colombo
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THE BENDS: AB de Villiers, left, and Quinton de Kock in the field during the opening Test between Sri Lanka and South Africa. De Villiers's back complaint means De Kock will probably keep wicket again for the second Test in Colombo, starting tomorrow
THE BENDS: AB de Villiers, left, and Quinton de Kock in the field during the opening Test between Sri Lanka and South Africa. De Villiers's back complaint means De Kock will probably keep wicket again for the second Test in Colombo, starting tomorrow
Image: LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP

A tweaked hamstring prevented AB de Villiers from keeping wicket in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.

Now his lingering back problem has made it highly unlikely that he will be behind the stumps for the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo starting tomorrow.

So, it seems Quinton de Kock will retain the gloves and De Villiers will again play as a batsman.

De Villiers tried to explain the situation yesterday.

"In the last game I had that 'hammy' issue," he said. "That's sort of recovered, but my back has always been an issue."

Another problem, De Villiers said, was that his most recent Test as a wicketkeeper was against Australia at Newlands in a match that started on March 1 - more than five months ago.

"It's difficult to take on the gloves, especially keeping in mind that I haven't kept for six or seven months now. So, with that injury and a two-day turnaround after the day off on Monday, for me to get into shape with my gloves on, and considering my back, would be a little bit unfair.

"I'm still willing to take the gloves for the boys. I just have to come into a series prepared without any niggles."

The problem with that theory, especially if De Villiers's back has "always been an issue", is that he went from February to October last year - almost eight months - without keeping wicket in a Test.

What would De Kock's selection behind the stumps tomorrow mean going forward?

"I'd still like to think that I'm a wicketkeeping batsman and whatever the team wants me to do, I'll do that," De Villiers said. "If they want me to take the gloves, I'd like to do that."

The pitch for the second Test sported a thick thatch of brown grass yesterday, which grounds staff said would not be cut.

But no amount of grass of whatever colour is going to change the SSC's reputation as a place where bowlers come to die, metaphorically - the pitch is at least as flat as the top of Table Mountain.

However, De Villiers thought things could be different this time, thanks to Sunday's outcome.

"From Sri Lanka's point of view, they would like to get a result out of this and so do we. That's good for the game; that's what everyone wants. No matter what the wicket looks like, we'll be going for that win," he said.

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