Prodigious South Africa gloveman in doubt for the final Test against Kiwis, who have injury concerns of their own
De Kock warned by Proteas over IPL risk
New Zealand and South Africa have both been hit by injuries to key players just two days from the start of the third Test, with Proteas gloveman Quinton de Kock in doubt for both the final match of the tour as well as the upcoming Indian Premier League.
De Kock is nursing a ligament injury to the index finger on his right hand after suffering a blow on the third day of the second Test. Initial scans ruled out a fracture but the 24-year-old is still suffering discomfort.
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South Africa, who hold a 1-0 series lead going into the final Test in Hamilton, say they'll make a decision on Friday about whether the star wicketkeeper-batsman will play the Test, which begins on Saturday.
Even if de Kock is passed fit for the final match of the tour, Proteas team manager Dr Mohammed Moosajee stressed the 24-year-old could jeopardise his participation in South Africa's ICC Champions Trophy campaign in June and the following Test tour of England if he doesn't get the necessary rest in the coming weeks.
"We will make a late call on his availability for the match on Friday after he undergoes a fitness test with protective strapping to see if he will be able to bat or keep wicket," Moosajee said in Cricket South Africa statement.
"Either way, he is going to need a protected period of recovery which will take between 4-6 weeks.
"In the long-term, there is every likelihood of him missing out on the IPL because of the expected recovery time.
"Being a wicket-keeper, every time he catches the ball there is strain on the finger and it makes it difficult to allow for sufficient time to recover.
"If he doesn't have the 4-6 weeks' recovery time, further activity could aggravate the injury and it could even jeopardise his participation in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy and the full tour to England."
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Dr Moosajee's comments indicate that should de Kock choose to participate in the upcoming Indian Premier League, where he's contracted to the Delhi Daredevils, he would be endangering his participation in South Africa's two major series this year.
If de Kock is ruled out of the third Test, Heinrich Klaasen is expected to be his replacement in what would be his debut Test.
New Zealand, meanwhile, have ruled out paceman Tim Southee for the Hamilton Test after he tore a hamstring in Wellington last week during South Africa's eight-wicket win.
Southee's injury has left New Zealand sweating on the fitness of his regular new-ball partner Trent Boult, who missed the second Test because of leg soreness.
Boult is in the squad for the third Test and has bowled in the nets this week, but has yet to pass a final fitness test. However, a team spokesman said there would be no replacement called up for Southee.
The spokesman said Southee had suffered soreness towards the end of the second Test, which has since been confirmed as a hamstring injury.
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"While only a minor tear, he will not be fit for the upcoming match beginning Saturday," he said.
A win to South Africa could see them sneak past Australia into second spot on the International Cricket Council's Test rankings for the April 1 cut-off date, the governing body's 'official' end to the cricket season.
The ICC awards USD $1 million to the top-ranked side (which India have already locked up) and $500,000 to the runners-up.
Australia are currently in second spot but will surrender their ranking if they fail to beat India in the final Test in Dharamsala and the Proteas defeat New Zealand in Hamilton.