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South African wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock has expressed that it will be difficult for players to compete in all three formats of cricket if more games continue to be added to the already packed schedule. Cricket’s calendar has been under heavy scrutiny after England all-rounder and Test captain Ben Stokes retired from one-day internationals (ODI) this month.
“It’s going to start being tough for players — three formats is a lot and it looks like more games are happening over the calendar,” Quinton de Kock told the media on Sunday after England’s third ODI against South Africa which was called off due to rain. “Players need to make decisions individually and if they feel they can do it (play all three formats), I am happy for them. But guys need to take decisions into their own hands.”
The 29-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman called it a day in test cricket in December 2021, as he wanted to spend more time with his family. “I’ve been roped in to play a couple of leagues but that’s my own consequence,” Quinton De Kock said. “I am happy to do it.”
“It’s still a sacrifice but I’m slowly getting to an age where I need to think about where I want to be in my career. As long as I can do it at my own pace then I am happy. When you’re still young you need to play all three formats and get certain things done in your career. It starts getting harder as you start getting older and the body doesn’t cooperate like it used to. It’s just a management thing.”
Former England captain Nasser Hussain also called the international cricketing schedule as “madness” in his column with Sky Sport. He wrote, “It is disappointing news to say the least but it is a reflection of where the cricketing schedule is at the moment. It is madness for players."
"If the ICC just keep putting on ICC events and individual boards just keep filling the gaps with as much cricket as possible, eventually these cricketers will just say I’m done. Stokes is done with one format aged 31, which can’t be right, really. The schedule needs looking at, it is a bit of a joke at the moment,” he added.