The young and talented wicketkeeper-batsman from South Africa Quinton de Kock recently admitted that he was quite happy to have not played in the India-South Africa test series in 2015. According to him, some of the pitches in the series looked ridiculous and he is very glad that he missed those tests.
The pitches in that series came under huge scanner as the surfaces on which the test matches were played offered prodigious turn and made life for the batsmen. South Africa was completely outclassed by India and they lost the series 3-0.
None of South Africa's premier batsmen could get going on those tracks and it was a humiliating series loss for the Proteas.
Some of the pitches looked ridiculous
“After seeing the kind of pitches that were prepared, I was actually quite happy I wasn't playing. I think they saved my career! To be honest, some of those pitches looked ridiculous. I am glad I missed those Tests,” said Quinton de Kock in a recent interview to the Times of India.
According to de Kock, not playing in that series might have saved his career as he clearly pointed out the condition of the pitches. On being asked whether he has fared better against spin than his teammates, Quinton denied that by saying he is actually one of the worst players of spin. He also defended the likes of Faf Du Plessis, AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla by saying that they are very good players of spin and one shouldn’t read too much into their performance in the series against India.
He said in the interview, “Just because they couldn't do it in India doesn't mean they can't get on top of spinners.” Quinton also remarked that the Indian spinners are only bowling well in their country and once they are out of their terrain their performances dip.
Quinton de Kock also feels that his teammate AB de Villiers is a class apart and he is the one who can do unbelievable things with the bat. On one hand, he can be deadly destructive with the bat and on the other hand he can play the typical test match inning too.
De Kock said he couldn’t have done what AB did in a couple of test matches where he completely shunned his natural attacking style and played a typical gutsy test-match knock.
“I don't think I could have done what he did in a couple of Tests here.” de Kock said about his teammate AB de Villers. Talking about his role in the Delhi Daredevils squad in the IPL 2016,” he said that he is a senior there in the team because of his experience. However, when he goes back to the national squad, he is still a baby because of the big names the side has.
De Kock admitted that the Sri Lankan speedster Lasith Malinga is the toughest bowler he has ever faced. However, he had high regards for the Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin who was the tormentor-in-chief in the test series.
De Kock, who has a terrific record against India believes the talented offie could trouble him and termed Ashwin as a very good bowler.
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