South African head coach Mark Boucher talked about keeper-batter Quinton de Kock’s sudden retirement from Test cricket, saying that it came as a shock for them but they respect his decision. 

It was quite the dramatic year 2021 for Quinton de Kock in the Test format. The southpaw started the year as South Africa’s skipper in the longest format of the game and ended the year as a former Test cricketer. 

Quinton de Kock shocked the entire cricket fraternity after he announced a retirement from Test cricket on Thursday (30th December). The wicketkeeper said that he wanted to spend more time with his growing family as he and his wife Sasha are expecting their first child in the coming days. 

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Talking about Quinton de Kock’s decision to retire from Test cricket, the South African head coach Mark Boucher said that it came as a surprise for him as he didn’t expect anyone of his caliber to retire at such age. He added despite everything they respect his decision and the reasons behind that. 

“You do not expect anyone of his caliber to retire at that age. It came as a shock. But we fully respect his reasons," Mark Boucher was quoted as saying by News 24.

Boucher said that De Kock retiring from the Tests is sad but they are in the middle of the series and cannot wonder about it for too long. He added that they need to focus on the players who will replace him in the squad and was hopeful that they’ll do something similar to what De Kock did. 

“It’s sad, but we’ll have to keep going. We’re in the middle of a series and we cannot wonder about it for too long. We need to focus on the guys who come in his place and hopefully, they can do something similar to what Quinny offered us. He had a fantastic Test career," he said. 

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Kyle Verreynne is the first choice to replace Quinton de Kock in the South African Test side. 

Mark Boucher feels that the 24-year-old has waited for his turn and honed his game. He revealed that they’ve been working closely with him and he’ll be having confidence in his game and will move in seamlessly. 

“He (Verreynne) waited his turn and honed his game. We have been working closely with him lately. It’s not that he is new to the system. He’s been around the guys for a while. So he will quietly have confidence in his game and he will be able to move in seamlessly," he said. 

The second Test match between South Africa and India will take place at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on January 3. 

(IANS Inputs)