Wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock has been named South Africa‘s ODI captain ahead of next month's series against England.
De Kock has replaced former captain Faf du Plessis, who has not been named in the squad. Both players are in the squad for this week's fourth and final Test against England. South Africa are priced at 3.60 by Unibet to win the final Test and square the series result two-all.
“We all know the quality of the player that Quinton has grown to become. Over the years, we have watched him grow in confidence and become one of the top ODI wicketkeeper-batsmen in the world. He has a unique outlook and manner in which he goes about his business and is tactically very street smart,” said interim director of cricket Graeme Smith.
“We are confident that the new leadership role will bring out the best in him as a cricketer and that he can take the team forward into the future and produce results that South Africans the world over can be very proud of. We wish him the very best in this new role and look forward to watching him make his mark in this series against the world champions.”
New team-mates for de Kock
The squad is also lined with new Proteas cricketers in wicketkeeper-batsman Kyle Verreynne and seamer Sisanda Magala. Verreynne and Magala have not been capped in international cricket.
Batsman Janneman Malan, all-rounder Jon-Jon Smuts, fast bowler Lutho Sipamla and Bjorn Fortuin have been named in the squad as well. They have been capped in T20I but not ODI cricket.
“We are really pleased with the squad we have selected, it is a good indication of the depth that we have in the country. The road towards the 2023 Cricket World Cup starts now and we want players doing well in our domestic structures to see the rewards of the hard work that they have put in,” added selection convenor Linda Zondi.
“The pool that we build going forward is going to be vital in the selection of that 2023 World Cup squad but also without looking too far ahead, we are confident that we have players that will make South Africa proud in this ODI series against a confident England team.”
South Africa and England will contest three ODIs in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg between 4 and 9 February 2020.
South Africa ODI squad
Quinton de Kock (captain), Reeza Hendricks, Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Jon-Jon Smuts, Andile Phehlukwayo, Lutho Sipamla, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi, Sisanda Magala, Bjorn Fortuin, Beuran Hendricks, Janneman Malan, Kyle Verreynne.
