Quinny targets big tons when SA gets out of jail
Staying fit during shutdown a challenge, captain admits
Elegant Proteas left-hander Quinton de Kock wants to score big hundreds post-coronavirus but for now the SA limited-overs captain is more occupied with staying fit during the nationwide lockdown.
The stylish wicketkeeperbatsman‚ who is as pleasing on the eye with his glove work as he is with bat in hand‚ said he had found it mentally challenging to stay fit from the comfort of his confined space at home five weeks into the shutdown
“[Getting] fit is one thing during this lockdown ... but the problem is trying to stay fit‚” the 27-year-old Johannesburgborn star said.
“It’s a little bit difficult and obviously the lockdown takes a toll on you mentally.
“You actually [want] to get up and do stuff — that’s what I have found the longer we have been staying in this lockdown thing.
“Once everything gets lifted and we can get out and get some running done and all that‚ I am sure my fitness will get back and so will everyone else’s.”
De Kock reflected on his contribution during the recent four-match Test series against England.
“I think I have played decently, you know‚” the former Lions batting mainstay said after the Proteas were trounced 3-1 by the tourists.
In eight innings, De Kock posted scores of 95‚ 34‚ 20‚ 50‚ 63‚ 3‚ 76 and 39 — his runs in the opening Boxing Day Test in Centurion central to the Proteas’ win before the team folded in Port Elizabeth‚ Cape Town and Johannesburg.
He said he had been left kicking himself in frustration after making good starts but failing to convert. “There was a time when I was starting to get grumpy when I was not converting all my starts to big scores‚ especially during the Test matches against England.
“But I still don’t think it was bad‚” De Kock said.
“I still want to get better and, obviously, start to score big hundreds for the team and I think that is the most important thing to try to get going now.”
The soft-spoken star‚ who plays for the Centurion-based
Titans‚ said other than putting in some limited exercise at home, all he did was watch movies and series when he was not video-calling his franchise and SA teammates.
“I have Faced-Timed [using a video calling App called Face
Time] quite a lot of the guys.
“We are good friends‚ so every now and again we FaceTime each other and see what is happening.
“It is just to chat to everyone to find out what they are getting up to and just to get in contact with the guys.”
Cricket South Africa suspended the sport for 60 days on March 16, terminating its domestic season prematurely, though only a handful of rounds remained to complete the campaign. —