After South Africa’s convincing victory in the One Day International Series debates around giving Quinton de Kock an opportunity to play in the Test team surfaced. The selectors said AB de Villiers is their first choice Wicket Keeper and Thami Tsolekile their back up keeper.
While selectors believe playing AB as their wicket keeper ‘opens up their number seven’ spot, it may not be their best option. They also claim the move opens up an opportunity for an all-rounder when Jacques Kallis retires. On the contrary, the Proteas will need specialist batsman, not an all-rounder.
De Villiers could potentially fill the number four spot. This is where De Kock comes in… he will be an ideal wicketkeeper-batsman coming in at seven.
All is good and sounds like it makes sense, however, the best option for South Africa at this stage would be to play De Kock, which will potentially ‘complete’ the side. Sure De Villiers can keep wicket and bat well, however, he should be utilised as a specialist batsman, not wicketkeeper-batsman. The question may be, “Why not play Tsolekile then?”
Well, age is a factor, considering Tsolekile is well in his thirties and De Kock just turned 21, not to mention his recent form in the 50 over game. The selectors needed to keep in mind his recent form in particular. Here is a man who has just scored three consecutive centuries and he will only be getting a chance to play in seven months.
With the first Test at the Wanderes, there are plenty reasons why De Kock should be given a chance to play Test Cricket… As the saying goes in sport, “If he is good enough, he is old enough.”
My thoughts on De Kock are that he is definitely the future, and players like him don’t show up often. Unlike most young players, he looks like someone who will be a legend for South African cricket… I envision a similar story to that of Marc Boucher, with the possibility of him being a better batsman while doing a great job behind the stumps.
After all that, we will have to wait and see when the selectors would give him a chance to play Test cricket.
