South Africa’s wicketkeeper batsman Quinton De Kock has turned the tables by making a surprising comeback to the ODI format by reversing his decision of retirement. Quinton had several discussions with coach Shukri Conrad. Quinton’s comeback in the white ball squads for the Pakistan tour has given hope for the Proteas before a challenging away series.
Comeback of the saviour
De Kock initially retired from ODIs after the 2023 World Cup. He scored 594 runs and helped the Proteas reach the semi-finals of the World Cup. His retirement had caused a wide gap in the squad. South Africa found itself in the middle of several problems due to its lack of consistency in white ball games. A late-night phone call where Quinton talked about his desire to come back and help his country again brought back hope to the Proteas. De Kock was shortlisted for both ODI and T20I squads in the crucial tour. Coach Shukri Conrad understood the importance of his comeback. He mentioned that De Kock’s quality and desire to contribute to South Africa’s future international campaigns will help the squad a lot.
De Kock to make a difference
De Kock’s stats include 6,770 ODI runs at a brilliant average of 45.74 across 155 matches, which also includes 21 centuries. South Africa’s win rate has always been higher with him in the lineup. The injuries of Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram have forced them out of the squad. David Miller will be leading the South African Team in their absence, and the comeback of Quinton De Kock will help in increasing the depth of the squad.
De Kock’s comeback shows a significant moment in South African cricket and adds vital experience ahead of the Pakistan series. Quinton’s decision is expected to give confidence to the squad and help teammates as they prepare for future international tournaments and look to get back to their winning momentum in O
