‘Proper cricket unlikely to resume any time soon’

Proteas limited overs captain Quinton de Kock does not see the team playing proper cricket until at least August but players will contest the “three-game thing” in Centurion in two weeks’ time.

The “three game thing” De Kock was referring to is a path-breaking tournament called 3TeamCricket and will take place on July 18 — former president Nelson Mandela’s birthday.

Cricket SA launched the uniquely structured competition last month.

It consists of three teams of eight players each and will be played at De Kock’s stomping ground, SuperSport Park in Centurion, where he stars for the starstudded Titans.

De Kock‚ who was voted SA men’s cricketer of the year for the second time in his career at a CSA virtual awards ceremony at the weekend‚ said playing professional cricket during the

Covid-19 pandemic would be challenging with the new rules to reduce the risk of infection.

“I must be honest‚ I think cricket is going to be tough.

“Professional games are going to be hard to be played‚” De Kock‚ who also bagged the Test cricketer of the year and the men’s player’s player of the year awards, said.

“I mean, we’ve got so many regulations and whatever it is that the government allows us to play.

“If we can play a game or two‚ it would be great.

“But, you know, if I have to be realistic — I don’t foresee cricket being played in a while.

“I’m talking at least a month‚” De Kock said.

“Obviously, we’ve got the three-game thing so we will play that.

“But after that‚ at least with international cricket‚ I don’t know what’s going to happen there.

“The guys like [director of cricket] Graeme Smith I’m sure are on it. I’m very unsure on what’s going on‚” De Kock said.

The Proteas came off their worst season ever after a disastrous World Cup in England‚ a dreadful tour of India and a forgettable home summer against England‚ which saw Faf du Plessis resign as captain and De Kock named as his successor in the game’s shorter formats.

“Look‚ initially it was difficult.

“There ware a lot of changes, especially after the World Cup.

“There were a lot of changes and it is always difficult‚ but we found a way.

“It was difficult at stages but we got through it‚ which is the important thing.

“Having played for so many high-profile teams‚ you go through so many changes and so many difficult times that, you know, it almost becomes a norm. ”—