De Kock adds to SA injury woes

CAPE TOWN: The South African one-day international team suffered a third injury blow on Monday when wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock was ruled out of the rest of the series against India because of a wrist injury.

South Africa started the sixmatch series against India as the world’s number one team in oneday cricket, with four of the world’s top ten batsmen.

They have already surrendered the top team ranking to India after losing the first two matches — and De Kock’s injury means Hashim Amla is the only one of their leading batsmen still in action going into the third match at Newlands today.

AB de Villiers and regular captain Faf du Plessis were both sidelined by finger injuries, De Villiers for the first three matches and Du Plessis for the series.

Both De Kock and Du Plessis were also ruled out of three Twenty20 internationals at the end of the India tour.

Both may be struggling to be fit in time for the first of four Tests against Australia, starting in Durban on March 1.

Cricket South Africa announced on Monday that De Kock was in “severe pain and discomfort” after being struck on the left wrist while batting in the second match in Centurion on Sunday. He will need two to four weeks to recover.

No replacement was named but uncapped Heinrich Klaasen is the favourite to take over the gloves after being added to the squad last week.