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South African captain Quinton de Kock mentioned on Monday he and his gamers felt a duty to make sure future excursions of South Africa can happen by strictly adhering to COVID-19 protocols. He mentioned the South African group have been remaining in quarantine in a ‘bio-bubble’ facility exterior Pretoria forward of a two-match Test collection in opposition to Sri Lanka that begins in close by Centurion on Saturday.
The gamers have been adhering to a strict regime of room service meals, social distancing and coaching in small teams pending a Covid take a look at on Tuesday.
Both groups are staying in the identical nation membership facility however De Kock mentioned there was no direct contact.
“We can see them but we have our own boundaries and we can’t mingle.”
The groups will keep on the identical venue for the Tests in Centurion and Johannesburg, with each Test grounds inside simple driving distance.
It is South Africa’s second expertise of life in a bio-secure ‘bubble’ following the ill-fated white-ball collection in opposition to England which was referred to as off early due to optimistic coronavirus checks, which have been later discovered to be false positives.
Although Sri Lanka arrived in South Africa final weekend for the Test matches, doubts have been expressed about Australia fulfilling a deliberate Test collection in South Africa early subsequent yr.
The South Africans assembled on Saturday and have been instantly examined for the virus. All checks got here again unfavorable however De Kock mentioned full coaching would solely begin after the outcomes of Tuesday’s second spherical of checks have been obtained.
“Obviously we’ve got that bit of responsibility but it’s not much you can’t handle,” mentioned De Kock.
“It’s just a small part we can play in ensuring future tours in bubble life and Covid times.”
The South African squad was lowered from 19 to 17 gamers when two examined optimistic for Covid final week. A group spokesperson mentioned the names couldn’t be launched for medical and labour relations causes however {that a} new squad record could be introduced after the subsequent spherical of Covid checks, which is able to allow deductions to be made about who’s lacking.
De Kock, South Africa’s common white-ball captain, mentioned he had agreed to be Test captain as a short-term measure for seven Test matches in the course of the present season, “until someone really puts up their hand. The guys are looking for a long-term leadership role and I won’t be doing that.”
Although the unique cause for De Kock not being made Test captain was an overload of duty on him as a number one batsman in addition to wicketkeeper, he mentioned he would proceed as wicketkeeper within the forthcoming collection.
De Kock mentioned his goal for the Test season was to hasten the event of younger gamers, with South Africa needing to make up an excessive amount of floor to be an element on this planet Test championship.
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“We doubt whether we’ll be playing in the final of the championship,” he mentioned. “We have young players who need to learn – and to learn fast. I want the new guys to come in and start putting up their names.”
De Kock mentioned he anticipated the pitches in Centurion and Johannesburg to have tempo and bounce. He mentioned South Africa needed to play intelligent, aggressive Test cricket in an try to reverse a 2-Zero collection loss when Sri Lanka toured in 2018/19.
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