De Kock on how his break rekindled the passion to return to the Proteas

JUST on 14 months ago Rob Walter was stumped.

- ZAAHIER ADAMS

The former Proteas white-ball coach was left exasperated after facing yet another question on Quinton de Kock’s international future.

“I don't know, to be dead honest.

“For the next little while, there will be no conversations between myself and Quinny as to whether he wants to play for South Africa again,” Walter said.

“T've left the door open for him to approach me if and when he wants to do that. That might never happen.”

At that stage, De Kock had officially retired from ODI’s but was in limbo about his future availability in the T20 format for the national team.

De Kock never contacted Walter, who has since left the Proteas to continue his coaching journey with New Zealand’s Black Caps, but did eventually call Walter's successor Shukri Conrad.

For someone that plays his cricket based on instinct and had previously shocked everyone with his career-decisions, De Kock was showing a newfound maturity as it came after much deliberation.

“The thought process wasn't an overnight thing.

“It took me weeks, months to really think if I wanted to make a comeback.