South Africa are sweating on the fitness of regular Test wicketkeeper AB de Villiers, who is suffering with a tight right hamstring and was unable to keep wicket during Monday's practice session. CSA said de Villiers is likely to play the first Test against Sri Lanka starting on Wednesday though there are doubts over whether he will keep.
De Villiers' injury worry increases the chances of 21-year-old Quinton de Kock making a second Test appearance, five months after making his debut, and this time he may find himself behind the stumps as well.
It was during his century in Saturday's ODI in Hambantota that de Villiers first experienced discomfort in his hamstring. He spent an hour and 41 minutes at the crease and scored a blazing 108 off 71 balls to take South Africa to their highest-ever total against Sri Lanka and a first ODI series win on the island.
He did not take part in any wicket-keeping drills in Galle as a result. In a media release, CSA said he will "continue to receive treatment," and that he is "likely to be available for selection for Wednesday's match." However, de Villiers has previously suffered from back problems and the management may choose to err on the side of caution if they feel he is not fully fit.
Should de Villiers be forced out of the starting XI, de Kock would take his place behind the stumps but will probably bat in the lower-middle order. Although de Kock's Test selection appeared premature in the only Test he played - against Australia in March - the youngster has hit form in Sri Lanka after struggling through the first two ODIs and struck a century alongside de Villiers on Saturday.
If de Villiers misses out, it may also create room for a Test debut for Stiaan van Zyl - the Cobras' top-order batsman who is part of the squad but is thought to be competing with de Kock for the No. 6 spot. Dean Elgar remains set to open with Alviro Petersen.
SA sweat on de Villiers fitness
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SA sweat on de Villiers fitness
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SA sweat on de Villiers fitness
