AB de Villiers will avoid putting extra stress on a hamstring
injury by playing as a batsman only in the first Sri Lanka Test
with Quinton de Kock taking over wicketkeeping duties, South
Africa captain Hashim Amla said on Tuesday.
“De Villiers unfortunately has being struggling with a
hamstring, he hasn’t kept in any of the practice sessions and it
is unlikely he will keep tomorrow (Wednesday),” Amla, who
will make his debut as a Test captain, told reporters.
De Kock, playing only his second Test match, opens the
innings with Amla in one-day internationals but his batting
position in the Test side had yet to be decided, Amla said.
Due to the 21-year-old De Kock’s inclusion, South Africa will
play just one frontline spinner, Imran Tahir, with JP Duminy
set to be utilised as the second slow bowling option.
“I have never played here before but it looks like a good flat
wicket. In the subcontinent when you win the toss you are
going to bat first,” Amla, who succeeded Graeme Smith as Test
captain, said.
The two-Test series concludes with a second match in
Colombo starting on July 24.
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