What’s Proteas Back-up Plan If AB Were to Get Injured?

AB De Villiers’ recent back injury has caused a stare around South Africa’s cricketing public. Although Thami Tsolekile is the evident wicket-keeper to take over if anything would happen to De Villiers again, it still seems that the public aren’t really confident over his selection – The selectors as well having to be vividly worried during De Villiers’ rehabilitation, whether he would’ve been fit for the series on time or not. So here’s a list of potential candidates who are able to take over the wicket-keeping duties if in future De Villiers were to have another injury –or simply put a halt on the glove-work duties –if it’s indeed distracting him from his batting duties.

Dane Vilas (28) –Cape Cobras
FC: 45 matches, 46.23 ave
List A: 58 matches, 29.44 ave
T20: 40 matches, 38.40 ave, 132.44 Strike Rate

Rated very highly with the bat, Dane Vilas seems to be the favourite amongst the public to take over wicket-keeping duties if De Villiers were to be injured. However his glove-work still needs to be worked on. Vilas is still very much raw with his wicket-keeping skills, but really impressive with the bat. Averaging currently around 46 in first-class cricket and 38 in T20s with a strike rate of 132.44 shows that he’s much capable to score runs for the Proteas in Test match cricket as well strengthen South Africa’s depth batting order.   

Daryn Smit (28) –Sunfoil Dolphins
FC: 72 matches, 32.11 ave
List A: 68 matches, 29.94 ave
T20: 52 matches, 21.86 ave, 114.68 Strike Rate

One of the most underrated wicket-keepers in the country; simply because he tends to bowl his leg-breaks on a regular, Daryn Smit has improved his overall game in the past few seasons. His maturity has definitely shown not only as a cricketer, but a leader as well. It’s much evident that young players in the same changing room as him such as David Miller are gradually maturing in their game under his leadership. This could be something the Proteas would cherish with Greame Smith and Jacques Kallis, both influential leaders in the Proteas side –coming close to the end of their careers.

Heino Kuhn (28) –Nashua Titans
FC: 87 matches, 46.17 ave
List A: 84 matches, 28.72 ave
T20: 45 matches, 18.37 ave,

Supposedly the successor of South African wicket-keeper veteran, Mark Boucher, Heino Kuhn’s inconsistency in the limited overs format of the game has made selectors doubt his ability to be the top glove-man for the Proteas. With AB De Villiers’ sudden take over with the wicket-keeping duties, and Thami Tsolekile’s CSA contract renewal, Kuhn unfortunately finds himself between a rock and a hard place. He’s First-Class record stays much healthy as well as his performances for the South Africa A squad which keep the selectors much enticed about the idea of Kuhn –as the possibly the next wicket-keeper for South Africa.

Quinton de Kock (19) –Highveld Lions
FC: 14 matches, 63.63 ave
List A: 18 matches, 29.61 ave
T20: 23 matches, 29.88 ave, 139.56 SR

He’s young, truly talented and hungry to play for South Africa. Quinton De Kock is a noticeable replica of Herschelle Gibbs also as a 19 year old. Young, gifted with a good head upon him. He’s success’ definitely cannot be ignored, averaging over 63 in First-Class cricket with a highest score of 194. Young Quinny [de Kock] is a wicket-keeper batsman South Africa would love to push through to the Proteas Test side. Although is performance have been truly overwhelming for the selectors to swallow, de Kock still has to learn a bit more about his game and how he has to approach different match situations. His aggressive approach towards a bowling attack seems to be his way of success, but that won’t be the case against teams like Australia and India playing in India on turning wickets. He still needs to learn a bit more about himself and his cricket until a possible call-up. It’s obvious that it’s just a matter of time before we see this talented youngster in the ‘green and gold’. The only question now –is how long left until we see him feature into the South African cricket side in all formats of the game.

Thami Tsolekile (32) –Highveld Lions
FC: 134 matches, 29.01 ave
List A: 126 matches, 21.11 ave
T20: 53 matches, 23.10 ave, 108.66 SR

Thami Tsolekile is the only player amongst the other four wicket-keepers being mentioned to have played Test cricket for South Africa. However his average in all formats of the game do not justify his selection in the South African Test squad, only having to average 29 in First-Class cricket –the lowest compared to the other wicket-keeper batsmen on South Africa’s wicket-keeping ‘hit-list’-yet he has played over 130 First-Class matches. Fortunately for Tsolekile is that he’s now got a chance to prove his worth in the South African team –provided he gets a chance to play. Not many people are confident in his abilities; and many critics feel that he’s not the same talent they had witnessed when he was still the young radical wicket-keeper batsman playing for Western Province and the Nashua Cape Cobras.

Source:espncricinfo.com

-Mandilulame Manjezi
@JizzyJakes
VC Dip in Journalism student