“Resting him for someone else is not an option”

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

South Africa wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock has been given the green light to feature in the third Test against New Zealand in Hamilton.

However, De Kock, who has been diagnosed with ligament damage in his right index finger, will play no part in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

This is due to the fact that the 24-year-old will need at least four weeks to recover from his injury and ensure that he is fully fit for the Champions Trophy in June and the Test series in England in July.

When asked why De Kock was being made to play even though the Proteas have a back-up wicketkeeper in Heinrich Klaasen, captain Faf du Plessis admitted that it was too big of a game to leave De Kock on the sidelines.

“It’s a big game. Quinton is someone who you don’t just replace. From my side, I am trying to have Quinton in my team all the time,” Du Plessis said. “He has had problems with his fingers for quite a while. It’s part of being a keeper.

“It’s never nice to catch balls on the fingertips all the time and it’s been painful for him for a while. Maybe the cold New Zealand conditions make it worse. It’s hurting for him a bit more now but because it’s a big game, resting him for someone else is not an option. We are trying to put as much pressure as we can on New Zealand.”

South Africa hold a 1-0 lead going into the final Test on Saturday as they defeated New Zealand by eight wickets in the second Test in Wellington.