Quinton new Proteas captain
According to coach Gibson he has a very good cricket brain. HONOUR: DE KOCK TO LEAD PROTEAS IN FAF’S ABSENCE
Proteas coach Ottis Gibson said yesterday the decision to appoint Quinton de Kock as the captain for South Africa’s final two ODIs against Sri Lanka was based on the maturity the wicketkeeper/batsman has shown in the last year.
“We’re trying to grow a leadership team and Quinton has matured a lot since I got the coach- ing position, and hopefully being captain will help that some more. Of course you speak to the players and I found that Quinny has a very good cricket brain, he really understands the game.
“This is an opportunity for him to show that side as a leader. He’s been a constant help to the captain and has been a good leader on the field when he’s just been a normal player,” Gibson said in announcing De Kock as the replacement skipper for Faf du Plessis, who injured his shoulder in the third ODI last weekend.
The 25-year-old will become the 14th South African ODI captain and the third gloveman after Mark Boucher, who led the side once in 2003/4, and AB de Villiers, the skipper in 103 games, when he leads the Proteas out for the fourth ODI in Kandy today.
De Kock said he will carry on the successful leadership style of Du Plessis, who has led the Proteas to an unassailable 3-0 lead.
“I’m quite nervous and it’s an honour, but I’m excited too and I can’t wait to get going. I’ll just try to carry on the legacy of Faf, while staying true to myself. The team performance speaks for itself at the moment, everyone is chipping in and I just want to keep the high standards for the next two ODIs,” De Kock said.
JP Duminy is the captain for the solitary T20 game next Tuesday, while Du Plessis is likely to be replaced by Heinrich Klaasen.