Quinton de Kock

Quinton de Kock has emerged as one of the most promising young wicket keepers of this decade, thanks to his flamboyant batting coupled with the efficient display behind the stumps.

His incredible exploits at the start of his career have already compelled the cricketing experts to mark him as one of the future greats.

About Quinton de Kock

Background

De Kock went to King Edward VII High school, the same as of his compatriots Graeme Smith and Neil Mckenzie. He made a name for himself during the ICC U-19 World Cup in Australia where he was the leading run scorer for his team with 284 runs from six matches.

In the Champions League T20 in 2012, Kock played a match-winning innings for Highveld Lions, helping him in get a national call-up.

Debut

The Southpaw made his debut for the national T20 team against the visiting New Zealand in 2012 in absence of the regular keeper AB de Villiers. De Kock made a reasonable impression on his debut by scoring a 28 off 23 balls while chasing .

Things didn't go well in the debut ODI series in January 2013 against the Kiwis, and after a mediocre performance against Sri Lanka in July 2013, he was eventually dropped from the team.

Rise to glory

After returning to the ODI team in November 2013, he announced himself onto the big stage by scoring an aggressive century against Pakistan.

The best of him was yet to come, as he plundered three successive hundreds against a shell-shocked Indian team in December 2013.

In the following year, he made his debut in Tests against Australia at Port Elizabeth, scoring seven and 34 runs in two innings. However, he became a permanent member of the test team later that year on tour of Sri Lanka.

Low point

De Kock tore his ankle ligaments in a warm-up match against West Indies in December 2014, which also jeopardized his participation in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. Though he managed to recover in time for the event, he struggled to get back to his old form and got meager runs throughout the tournament.

This, coupled with his struggles in Bangladesh ultimately forced him out of the side and he was demoted to South Africa A side later on.

On the back of some encouraging performances, the wicketkeeper-batsman made a strong comeback to ODI side and scored two centuries in away ODI series against India in 2015, helping his side win the series 3-2.

Club career

Impressed by De Kock’s free-flowing knocks in international cricket, Indian Premier League franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad bought him on board for the 2013 edition. He didn't exactly set the stage on fire and was bought by Delhi Daredevils in 2014.

With imposing records piled on by youngster thus far, De Kock remains one of the most interesting youngsters to look forward to in the future.

Records

• 2nd most runs scored by a wicketkeeper in an ODI innings

• Most dismissals in an ODI innings as a wicketkeeper

• Most catches in a T20I career

• Highest partnership alongside David Miller for fourth wicket in T20I cricket

Awards and accolades

• He was named the Cricketer of the Year at Cricket South Africa's 2017 and 2020 Annual Awards.\\

Career

IPL Career

Quinton de Kock was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad for the 2013 edition of the IPL. He struggled to perform, scoring only six runs in the three matches he played. In the 2014 season, Quinton was sold to the Delhi Daredevils team for 3.5 crores. Quinton managed to score only 153 runs in seven matches. The next season, he was retained and played three matches for his team. His major breakthrough year was 2016 in which he scored 445 runs in 13 matches, having an average and strike rate of 37.08 and 136.08, respectively. In 2018, Quinton was released by his old franchise and bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for 2.8 crores. He couldn’t perform to his potential as he scored only 201 runs in 8 matches, thus he was released by the franchise the following year. Mumbai Indians bought him for 2.8 crores and played him as an opener.

In 2019 and 2020, Quinton tasted huge success with the team, scoring over 500 runs in both the seasons and also lifting the trophy in two consecutive years. The following year, Quinton scored only 297 runs in 11 matches and was further released before the 2022 auctions. Quinton de Kock, being the talented player he is, was bought by a new franchise, Lucknow SuperGiants, for 6.75 crores. In the latest season, he scored 508 runs in 15 matches, including a knock of an unbeaten 140 runs against the Kolkata Knight Riders.

International Career

Test Career

Quinton de Kock made his Test debut against Australia on 20 February 2014. In his first match, Quinton only managed to make a total of 41 runs. Then in July, Quinton played in Asian soil against the Sri Lankans.

Quinton fared well against the spinners, scoring 123 runs in two matches, including his maiden half-century. His next big series came against England in January 2016. He played a couple of matches against the visiting English team in which Quinton scored his maiden century.

Few months later, Quinton played a couple of matches against New Zealand. Quinton batted in three innings against the Kiwis in which he had scored 165 runs, including two half-centuries. Then, in his first away series in Australia, Quinton impressed everyone by scoring two half-centuries in the first match and later a century in the second one.

Against Sri Lanka in the 2016-17 series, Quinton scored his third Test century. Then in an away series against New Zealand, Quinton managed to produce two 90-plus scores. After a few months, Quinton visited England and played in four matches.

He performed moderately in difficult English conditions, scoring 185 runs in four matches. In 2018, Quinton’s batting suffered slightly. Against the visiting teams of India and Australia, Quinton scored 71 runs in six innings against India, and 223 runs against the Aussies. Later in the 2018-19 series against Pakistan, Quinton returned to form, scoring 251 runs in just four innings, which also included a century.

In October 2019, against India, Quinton scored his first century in Asian soil. After a couple of months, Quinton went up against the English team. He scored 380 runs in the four matches, including four half-centuries.

Then, against Pakistan in 2021, Quinton struggled to score runs as the captain of the South African team, scoring only 46 runs in two matches. After four months, Quinton played a couple of matches against the West Indies. He had scores of 141*, 96 and 0, in three innings.

Shockingly, Quinton announced his retirement after playing the first match of the Test series against India on 26 December 2021. In his last Test match, Quinton scored 34 in the first innings and 21 in the second one.

ODI Career

Quinton played his first ODI against New Zealand on 19 January 2013. In his debut series, Quinton scored 74 runs in three matches. Then in November 2013, Quinton scored his maiden ton against the Pakistani team.

A month later, against the visiting Indian team, Quinton announced himself by scoring three consecutive centuries. His next series came seven months later, in July 2014, against Sri Lanka. In the spinning decks of Sri Lanka, Quinton yet again proved himself by scoring a century in the third match.

Next, Quinton played in a tri-series against Zimbabwe and Australia. Quinton performed moderately, scoring three half-centuries in 8 innings. His next big series was against Australia in November 2014. Although he struggled to bat in the bouncy pitches of Australia, Quinton made a century in the final match of the series.

Due to Quinton’s brilliant batting performances, he was selected in the South African squad for the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. Quinton disappointed everyone with his poor performance in the tournament, having only one 50-plus score in 8 matches.

Quinton returned to his prime form while playing in a series against India in October 2015. He scored a whopping 318 runs, including two centuries, in the five matches that he played in the subcontinent. Next, he played five matches against England, in which he scored another two centuries.

In June 2016, Quinton played in a tri-series against the West Indies and Australia. He scored 149 runs in the 6 matches held in the Caribbean. After three months, Quinton was picked in the South African squad for a home series against the Aussies.

In the first match, Quinton achieved his highest ODI score of 178 runs. Quinton played his first ODI series of 2017 against Sri Lanka in his home turf. He brought up his 12th ODI century in the final match of the series against Sri Lanka.

In June 2017, Quinton de Kock was selected to play in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy. Quinton scored a moderate 109 runs in the three matches that he played in the tournament. His next match after the tournament was against Bangladesh, in which he scored an unbeaten 168 runs off 145 deliveries.

In 2018, Quinton played only three ODI series. His first one was against India, against whom he scored 54 runs in two matches. Next, he visited Sri Lanka for a five-match ODI series. He scored 213 runs, including two half-centuries.

Quinton’s following series was against the Australians, against whom he scored only 60 runs in three matches. In 2019, Quinton played a couple of series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka before playing in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup. He averaged 38.67 and 70.60 in both the series, respectively. Quinton played nine matches in the World Cup and scored a total of 305 runs, including four half-centuries.

The South African gloves man’s next match came in the following year. Quinton was appointed the captain of his team, and he celebrated it by scoring a century in the first match of 2020 against England. His next series was against Australia in South Africa. Being the captain of the team, Quinton struggled with the bat, scoring only 41 runs in three matches.

After an indefinite break post his release from captaincy, Quinton made his comeback against Pakistan in April 2021. He scored 20 in the first match and 80 in the second one. His next match was against Ireland, in which he scored a fabulous 120 off just 91 deliveries.

Quinton’s following match was against the visiting Indian team in January 2022. Being the talented cricketer that he is, Quinton scored a half-century and a century in the second and third matches of the series, respectively.

A couple of months later, Bangladesh visited South Africa. Quinton played a couple of matches against them, scoring 62 and 12. Next, South Africa went to English shores for a 3-match ODI series. Although Quinton struggled to perform in the first two matches, he portrayed his brilliance in the third one with a score of an unbeaten 92. Quinton’s latest series was against India in October 2022. He scored a total of 59 runs in three matches.

T20I Career

Quinton de Kock made his T20I debut against New Zealand on 21 December 2012. In his first match, he scored an unbeaten 28 off 23 balls. His next series came against Sri Lanka in August 2013. Quinton struggled against the strong Sri Lankan spin attack, scoring only 40 runs at a strike rate of 81.63 in three matches. Next, Quinton played four T20Is against Pakistan.

Quinton scored 147 runs in the series, striking the ball at the rate of 128.94. In 2014, Quinton played a couple of matches against Australia, in which he scored a quick-fire unbeaten 41 off 20 balls in the first match.

After a few days, Quinton played in the 2014 ICC T20 World Cup. He struggled to perform for his team in the tournament, scoring only 64 runs in five matches. In 2015, Quinton only played a couple of matches against Bangladesh in which he made scores of 12 and 44.

The following year, in his first match of the 2016 ICC T20 World Cup, Quinton scored his maiden half-century. He scored 153 runs at a strike rate of 142.99, in the four matches that he played in the 2016 ICC T20 World Cup.

Next, Quinton played a couple of matches in 2017, against New Zealand and Bangladesh. He scored a duck in the first match and 59 in the second one. Quinton's next big series came against India in 2019.

In the two matches that he played, Quinton scored 52 and an unbeaten 79. In February 2020, Quinton scored 131 runs in the three home matches against England. And in the following home series against Australia, he scored 77 runs in three T20Is.

Then, in July 2021, Quinton played five T20Is against West Indies. He scored 255 runs in the series, at a strike rate of 141.66. In September, in a T20I series against Sri Lanka, Quinton scored two unbeaten half-centuries. Next, he featured in the Proteas squad for the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup. He was able to score only 69 runs in four matches that he played in the tournament.

In 2022, Quinton visited India for a three-match T20I series. He scored 36 runs in two innings, at a strike rate of 116.12. Next, he played three T20Is in England. Quinton struggled with his form, scoring only 17 runs in three matches.

Even in the following series against Ireland, Quinton managed to make only 14 runs in two T20I matches. His latest series has been against India, in which he showed signs of his previous sublime form. He scored an unbeaten 69 and 68 in the second and third matches in India.