IND vs SA 2nd Test: de Kock's retirement to cripple South Africa batting line-up, says Amla

Former South Africa batter Hashim Amla feels that the sudden retirement of Quinton de Kock has crippled the already weakened Porteas' batting line-up.

While talking with Sport24, Amla said that Temba Bavuma and de Kock have been the country's best batters in the middle, and now that the latter has retired from Test cricket, it has crippled the batting line-up even more.

He added that this made it imperative for Bavuma to bat higher in the batting order to play a solidifying role as opposed to a recovery one. 29-year old de Kock announced his retirement from Test cricket after the first Test against India citing a family issue.

The Proteas were bowled out for 197 and 191 in two innings of the Centurion Test and lost by 113 runs. The second Test of the 3-match series will begin on January 3 in Johannesburg.

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