De Kock to face Windies after fitness boost
Quinton De Kock is recovering quicker than expected from an ankle injury he picked up in December and could be in line to return to the South Africa team for the fifth ODI against the West Indies next week.
When De Kock injured his ankle in the warm-ups before the first Test against the Windies on 17 December, it was feared that he would miss the first few matches of the World Cup, which gets underway in Australia and New Zealand in mid-February.
The 22 year-old has however made a rapid return to fitness and Proteas coach Russell Domingo wants give the opening batsman some match time ahead of the showpiece event.
Domingo said: "Depending on the medical committee, if they're okay with Quinton de Kock playing the last game [he'll play]. "So that's a possibility for us, and hopefully we can get him back into international cricket next Wednesday.
"He will join us on Friday [in Port Elizabeth], and train with us for the next few days and hopefully we'll have him ready for next Wednesday in Pretoria."
The Proteas, who have already clinched the series against the Caribbean Islanders with two matches to play, have used Rilee Rossouw to open the batting in De Kock's absence, with mixed results.
Although Rossouw scored a century in the second in ODI in Johannesburg, it was offset by two failures in the first and third matches of the series. Rossouw's average is a modest 23.33 after 12 ODI's.
Latest
-
NewsGeorge Scrimshaw holds final-over nerves to guide Derbyshire past Lancashire
Scrimshaw successfully defended the 10 runs in the final over.
-
EnglandJonny Bairstow and England looking to ‘take the game forward’
Bairstow hit a run-a-ball hundred for the second Test in succession as England fought back spectacularly against New Zealand.
-
EnglandJonny Bairstow century leads thrilling England fightback at Headingley
The Yorkshireman made 130 not out and put on 209 with debutant Jamie Overton to rescue his side from 55 for six against New Zealand.
-
EnglandEngland top order left in tatters as New Zealand gain upper hand at Headingley
The hosts were 93 for six in reply to New Zealand’s 329 all out.
-
New ZealandDaryl Mitchell breaks record with another century against England
Mitchell broke Martin Donnelly’s New Zealand tally of 492 runs in a series in England, set back in 1949.
-
EnglandSuperb James Vince ton leads Hampshire to shock win over Somerset
Sussex’s five-match losing streak came to an end with a 17-run win over Surrey.
-
EnglandAdil Rashid to miss England’s India white-ball series to make Mecca pilgrimage
Rashid has found it difficult to make the pilgrimage due to timings and commitments.
-
EnglandJack Leach pleased with good luck but admits freak dismissal no collector’s item
New Zealand closed the opening day of the final Test against England on 225 for five after Henry Nicholls was dismissed in bizarre fashion.
-
EnglandStuart Broad stars on day one for England but error of judgement proves costly
Broad kept a week of celebrations going strong by striking before a run had been added and followed with the key scalp of Kane Williamson.
-
EnglandMatthew Mott expects England whitewash to ‘light fire’ under captain Eoin Morgan
Mott made an ideal start in his new role with a 3-0 one-day clean sweep of the Netherlands.