Shaun Pollock believes that South African wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock announcing his Test retirement and the uproar that has followed it “might not be the end of the saga.”
The former Proteas pacer Shaun Pollock said on Monday that like in the case of dashing batsman AB de Villiers, there might be calls for Quinton de Kock to come out of retirement after two to three years. Quinton de Kock, 29, in his official statement said he wants to spare time for his young family, which is set to welcome a child soon.
Shaun Pollock Reckons There Might Always Be Calls Requesting Quinton de Kock To Come Back Citing Example Of AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers left international cricket in 2018 against a similar backdrop, saying he was “tired,” but later offered to return in 2019 and was unofficially asked to come back in 2021, neither of which could go through.
Speaking after Day 1 of the second India-South Africa Test in Johannesburg, Shaun Pollock shared his “funny feeling,” saying: “I have also got a funny feeling that it might not be the end of the saga. I think two maybe three years down the line, much like an ABD (AB de Villiers) discussion because ‘Quinny’ is such a fine player, there might always be calls for maybe him to come back.”
South Africa wicketkeeper-batsman, Quinton de Kock, announced his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect. The announcement comes on the backdrop of South Africa’s defeat in the first Test match against India in Centurion, where the visitors won by 113 runs and took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Incidentally, Quinton de Kock began 2021 as South Africa’s temporary Test captain and ended it by retiring from the format.
Shaun Pollock admitted that Quinton de Kock’s decision was “sad” and “shocking” but acknowledged that the constant quarantines have taken a toll on the players’ mental health. Shaun Pollock added that keeper Quinton de Kock would have also considered having more fun (not to mention earning more) by playing in lucrative T20 leagues around the world.
Shaun Pollock said: “It is sad and it would have come out as shocking… I think just mentally the bubbles, continuously being away from home are maybe taking its effect on the individuals. ‘Quinny’ is a guy who likes to go hunting, fishing, he likes to spend a bit of time away from the game and he’s not been able to do that.”
“Then obviously, at this stage of his career, he’s 29, you look at what sort of floats your boat, what is the format that you really get excited about, you know, there’s a lot of T20 leagues where he can just stand and deliver and probably have a lot of fun and probably takes a bit of stress off his body.”
Shaun Pollock called upon cricket boards to be considerate of the players’ health and find more efficient ways to preserve the “truest” format-Test cricket.
He said: “So it did come as a surprise but you can understand it. And that’s why we’ve always been concerned about the Test format, we see it as the truest test of the game. But I think the boards need to be very conscious of how they deal with their players, particularly in this Covid time, how they can make the best of them.”
Quinton de Kock finished his red-ball career with 3300 runs, including six hundred and 22 fifties, in 54 Tests at an average of 38.82. He was considered a leader having led for a few games and a star of the Proteas’s Test lineup and has certainly left their cricket poorer. Kyle Verreynne took the gloves in place of the retired Quinton de Kock in the ongoing 2nd Test.
Quinton de Kock had scored 34 runs in the first innings of the Centurion Test, followed by 21 in the second. He also affected 232 dismissals (221 catches and 11 stumpings) behind the wicket besides scoring 3300 Test runs.
Dinesh Karthik Hopes South Africa Could Accept And Move On From Quinton de Kock’s Test Retirement
Speaking during the same interaction, Indian wicketkeeper-batter veteran Dinesh Karthik expressed hope that the Proteas could accept and move on from Quinton de Kock’s sudden Test retirement because “Test cricket needs South Africa” at its best.
Dinesh Karthik said: “He just wants to move on with his family which is very, very interesting and understandable but you know, I just hope that South Africa is able to accept what has happened and move on in a good manner because Test cricket needs South Africa to be firing, a good South African side is very important for world cricket.”
The Johannesburg Test is piquantly poised with the hosts at 35-1, 167 runs behind India’s total of 202 after Day 1.
Shardul Thakur has put an end to a 74-run stand for the second wicket between Dean Elgar and Keegan Petersen as the pacer removed South Africa captain in his second over of Day 2. Shardul Thakur also removed the dangerous Keegan Petersen (62) and Rassie van der Dussen (1). His figures read 3/8 after 4.5 overs. His effort saw South Africa reduced to 102/4 at Lunch.