“In Test cricket, I need to be there as a keeper,” said interim Proteas Test skipper, Quinton de Kock, who also revealed, “I wasn’t going to keep in the ODIs against England. We wanted to give someone else a chance.”, writes Aditya Metha.
De Kock’s words highlight that the team management is mindful of his workload and want to ensure he is never overburdened.
Addressing the media ahead of the two-Test series against Sri Lanka, De Kock said, “We want to play clever Test cricket” and “throw first punches” before oppositions, which he said might have been lacking in the previous series.
Previously, it had been reported that Quinton de Kock would not be given the Test captaincy, given his responsibilities as captain, opening batsman, and wicket-keeper in white-ball cricket. However, De Kock is “happy to do it for now” as the brain trust of the Proteas search for a long-term captain.
Taking over the reins of a young team, De Kock emphasized that it is imperative for young players to “learn fast” to compete with stronger Test teams such as Australia and India.
De Kock reported that the team was “eager to get back” to Test cricket and “we have got a lot to rectify and win the series convincingly,” having been unexpectedly beaten by Sri Lanka last time they toured South Africa in early 2019. The last series between South Africa and Sri Lanka was played in Durban and Port Elizabeth.
With this series’ fixtures taking place at SuperSport Park (Centurion) and the Imperial Wanderers (Johannesburg), De Kock is expecting more pace and bounce. He confirmed that the South African camp have not asked for a specific type of wicket.
“The groundsmen will know what to prepare,” stated De Kock, and “we don’t need to give messages.”
Given that South Africa’s next series against Australia hinges on the smooth bio-bubble administration of the series against Sri Lanka, De Kock said the protocols were in place and “everyone has been adhering to it,” after concerns regarding two Proteas players recently testing positive for COVID-19.
Here is the full press conference:
Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
