The chokers keep on choking.
After our woeful performance against Zimbobwe and today's horrible performance against India, the Proteas could be facing elimination in the quarters against NZ or the Ozzies.
Quinton de Kock and Wayne Parnel are total liabilities and it is time to bring in Rossouw and Abbott (pity, Wiese should have been in the team).
AB is such a wonderful fielder, it will not make sense to bring him back as wicket keeper. How about Miller?
Full name Quinton de Kock
Born December 17, 1992, Johannesburg, Gauteng
Current age 22 years 68 days
Major teams South Africa, Delhi Daredevils, Gauteng,Gauteng Under-19s, Lions, South Africa Under-19s,Sunrisers Hyderabad
Batting style Left-hand bat
Fielding position Wicketkeeper
Batting and fielding averagesMatInnsNORunsHSAveBFSR100504s6sCtStTests5812648137.7146656.6502203191ODIs38381150013540.54171487.516416418622T20Is2020445748*28.56383119.32005312186First-class27475195419446.52245879.49413228341046List A74722253913536.27279091.0071027037978Twenty20827692207126*32.941666132.4729225834613An ODI average if 40.54 is good for a new player!!de Kock is a talent, but he is nowhere near ready to open for SA. He needs to learn to build an innings, he cant just go in and start hitting from the start.
My guess is that he is instructed to play that way, hardly appropriate when you only go in with 6 specialist bats.
The solution is simple. JP is good enough to bowl 10 overs. Open with Rossouw and bat de Kock at 7
The best way to watch the cricket is to record it and if its crap fast forward through it.
I went and watched England U18 rugby vs France and on route a mate of mine text to ask what had happened against India......I knew from that, that I would not be happy watching the recorded match on my return.
On that pitch, our bowling was fine, 300 is par and India have a good batting side.
de Kock threw his wicket away and the two run outs killed us.
We were never really in it
De Kock's problem is not that he isn't ready....he has played 38 ODIs. His problem is technique. The first time I saw him bat I was amazed that he had such a big reputation already. The gap between bat and pad is a barn door......and when he is nervous he doesn't move his feet at all. That's probably why he spoons catches to mid off.
This isn't going to get fixed with experience, he will get worse as his reflexes lose the bloom and confidence of youth. He is a talented slogger, not an open ing batsman.
No, his technique is not great but its a lot better than Graeme Smith's......the kid has plenty of raw talent.....he just needs to refine his approach. He is far too impulsive and therefore down the order to learn his trade is where he belongs.
Being out of cricket and being rushed back has not helped.
He is a class act though of that there is no doubt.