South Africa don’t need to win the T20 World Cup for Quinton de Kock to be a great captain but what happens at the global showcase could define his time as leader.
Photo Copyright – Steve Haag Sports
The way de Kock responds to the pressure of leading a South African side at a major ICC tournament might make or break his time as captain.
Leading the Proteas at a World Cup is something that has broken some of the best leaders and cricketers in South African history.
The Proteas themselves are fighting an uphill battle because nothing short of a tournament win will truly satisfy the desire of South African cricket fans. The supporters are eager for the team to shake off the awful chokers tag that has followed them for more than twenty years.
Even if the Proteas players put themselves in a bubble, they will have a sense of the narratives that are likely to grip the nation with social media amplifying the angst and banter.
The reaction to the team’s performance can put even the thickest skinned person off being in the public eye, especially if the team have out in their best effort.
The De Kock era has started with promise. The responsibility of leading the team has inspired the wicketkeeper-batsman to maintain an excellent standard across the home summer.
As a captain, he uses his central placement as a wicketkeeper to tweak the field to his liking. On the field, he is not an excessively vocal skipper, and he has leaned on his senior bowlers to help him manage the attack, which is a sensible approach.
The younger player’s in de Kock’s charge have made tremendous strides in white-ball cricket taking direction well and assuming responsibility.
De Kock and the young side Team Director Mark Boucher has picked need to go on a crash course in the international game ahead of the tournament.
If AB de Villiers is to return the Proteas will need to make sure it doesn’t disturb the team balance, which has made big strides.
South Africa hasn’t always prepared very well for tournaments or even made the right choices in and around them, and it would be a real shame if another botched effort ruined the tenure of a promising skipper.
Director of Cricket Graeme Smith must ensure that the captain is given all the support he needs on and off the field to ensure this tournament doesn’t crush the de Kock era.
Written by James Richardson for Hollywoodbets
