Quinton de Kock must stay Wicketkeeper

While the Proteas lack a match-winning allrounder in the Lance Klusener or Shaun Pollock mould, it’s ironic that we are sitting with three wicketkeeping batsmen who could be selected on their brilliance with the willow alone.

No, I don’t believe Quinton de Kock should drop the gloves while he ushers in a new era as captain of the Proteas. Even his coach was a wicketkeeper in his heyday.

If only Quinny was allowed to speak his mind he’d tell you he is absolutely fine behind the stumps and has no desire to relinquish the gloves.

And why not? De Kock has the best seat in the house behind the stumps. He is afforded the golden opportunity to assess the wicket from all angles.

That knowledge is invaluable, not only for his bowlers but for his ability to get off to a flyer in the first 10 overs of a Proteas run chase.

Wicketkeeping is the cornerstone of De Kock’s game – it would be like clipping his wings. It’s his coping mechanism to deal with the pressure and be the batsman that we all know him to be.

One thing is for sure: in Kyle Verreynne and Heinrich Klaasen, we have two brilliant fielders who can bat. We’re in good hands.

Quinton de Kock must pass on the gloves

Wicketkeeping is a taxing job. Mentally and physically. Having to crouch over for long hours and constantly be mentally switched on for every ball is not an easy task.

Especially in the modern game when games are played within close succession of each other. You also have to be switched on for every delivery.

Being captain, your mind is racing – thinking about who’s going to bowl the next over, thinking about organising the field.

Being both, it is double the pressure and it is bound to take it’s a toll on you mentally and my major concern is that it will affect De Kock’s batting as time goes by.

Since the major changes in the team dynamics and his selection as captain, I can’t help but think that he should be scoring bigger centuries and will do so if he drops the glove.

The Proteas yearn De Kock’s batting excellence more than his keeping, even more so with Heinrich Klaasen and Kyle Verreynne in the side.

The priority should be to keep De Kock at the peak of his batting prowess and in order to do that he should drop the gloves.