SA hoping De Kock can continue scintillating form
A century in the first test match against the West Indies shocked
Proteas star Quinton de Kock back into life and the talisman will be looking to
make this purple patch of form indefinite.
South Africa’s win over the West Indies on Tuesday evening in the third T20 international was also a fiftieth T20 International cap for De Kock and his 72 from 51 balls was crucial in their win and helped them take a two-one lead in the five-match series.
In the two-match test series De Kock was the highest run scorer with 237 runs at a whopping average of 118 where he scored one century and a fifty.
So far in the T20I series he also sits atop the run scorers list with 135 runs from three innings. He’s averaged 45 runs across those three innings with his 72 in the third match his series highest.
The ever reluctant De Kock has rediscovered his mojo since relinquishing the captaincy and even though Tuesday’s match was a milestone for him, he was unaware of it.
“I didn’t realise it was my fiftieth!” he said. “A friend in the team reminded me but it was a great day to get out there and to win the match.
“That’s the most important thing for me.”
Many players cherish and prepare for milestones throughout their careers, however De Kock isn’t one of those when questioned about the significance of the occasion.
“We play way too much cricket for me to keep up with everything!
“Maybe when I head towards the end of my career I’ll think about those things but for now I’m just soldiering on and will just carry on playing.”
Under the guidance of Temba Bavuma and with a strong core of players who have played a fair amount of international cricket, De Kock feels the side are in a good place with the T20 World Cup coming up.
“We’ve got a good bunch of lads in the squad all with good senses of humour which is nice.
“The guys are hungry which is good but in saying that we also have a lot of fun which is cool,” the softly spoken De Kock added.
With the likes of David Miller, Tabraiz Shamsi, Kagiso Rabada and Rassie van der Dussen amongst the squad, the team are at full strength as they look towards the World Cup and for De Kock they need to play as much as they can together.
“With the World Cup coming up it’s good that we are all
together and playing together.
“It’s good to have the core of the squad playing cricket together because it
has been a while.”
The Proteas have two more T20 Internationals against the West Indies before the end of the tour and they will be hoping to beat their more fancied opponents on their home soil.
