Is the captaincy burden hampering Quinton de Kock?
Captaincy is far more important in cricket than any other team sport. When you are on the field, you have to focus on your own performance and take care of the side. As a captain, you don’t just have to make tactical changes on the field, you also have to inspire each and every individual to perform to the best of their abilities. The host of responsibilities can be difficult for someone to manage. This is exactly the reason why Cricket South Africa’s Director of Cricket and a former national captain himself, Graeme Smith had said that Quinton de Kock won’t be given the Test captaincy.
However, with lack of options around, Smith and Cricket South Africa had to appoint de Kock as captain in all the formats. For Tests, it was hinted that the wicketkeeper-batsman would be a temporary solution. But after the toll captaincy took on de Kock, Mark Boucher did confirm his removal from the top position.
Mark Boucher: Quinton de Kock to be released from ‘burden’ of Test captaincy after Pakistan tour
— Cricket News & Score (@cricket_score) February 10, 2021
Falling form
The 28-year-old is one of the finest and consistent wicketkeeper-batsman in Tests. When he took over the captaincy in red-ball cricket, de Kock’s batting average was 39.12. But, just four Tests into leadership, that average has dropped to 37.60. That is marginally because since taking over the captaincy he has scored, 18, 10, 15, 2 and 29. These numbers will disappoint de Kock as much as his fans. But, the real question which needs to be asked is, whether this is just a batting slump or is the captaincy being too much for him?
Captaining a South African team has never been a huge problem for captains until now. Until recently, the Proteas team was top-notch in international cricket. The slump started happening from 2018. With the retirements of players like Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers, the team has just not found enough success against strong oppositions to stand tall. Having lost to England at home almost forced Faf du Plessis in letting go of the captaincy.
Eventually, with the lack of options around, de Kock was handed over the captaincy. Definitely, a series win at home against Sri Lanka made them feel much better about everything. But that feeling was short-lived for de Kock and the Proteas team as they lost the first Test against Pakistan badly. The captain’s form is often questioned when the team doesn’t win and that has been the case for Quinton.
