'It’s The Obvious Choice': Allan Donald Not Surprised By Quinton de Kock's Appointment As Test Captain

Cricket South Africa indeed threw a massive surprise by appointing Quinton de Kock the Test captain for the upcoming season that includes series against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Australia. CSA director Graeme Smith already announced earlier this year that they won’t give Quinton de Kock the Test captaincy, having already being in-charge of the white-ball sides. But former South African pacer Allan Donald claims that the keeper-batsman was the obvious choice.

Quinton de Kock has produced mixed results as the Proteas’ limited-overs captain. Under the swashbuckling left-handed batsman, South Africa lost two T20I series to England and one to Australia but has swept the latter in ODIs once along with drawing the leg against the reigning world champions – all of which happened last year. De Kock’s assignment as the red-ball captain begins with two-match Test rubber against Sri Lanka.

Allan Donald understands that Graeme Smith and the selectors are aiming to create stability in the environment currently by having Quinton de Kock lead in all the versions. Donald added that the 27-year old is an obvious choice.

“I know Graeme (Smith, Cricket SA Director of Cricket) and the selectors are looking to create stability in the environment and having Quinton lead across formats for the moment ensures that. It’s the obvious choice,” Donald told IOL Sport.

Quinton de Kock will miss being able to call on KG’s X-factor: Allan Donald

With Kagiso Rabada nursing an injury and not receiving the nod for the moment in South Africa’s Test squad to face Sri Lanka, Allan Donald opines that the captain will miss the speedster’s X-factor. The 54-year old dreams of seeing Rabada and Anrich Nortje bowl in tandem, terming the latter as a fierce competitor. At the same time, Donald backs Lungi Ngidi and Beuran Hendricks to provide Rabada with good support.

“Quinny will miss being able to call on KG’s (Rabada) X-factor. He is just such a classy bowler through his consistency. KG will always be missed when he’s not in the line-up. It would really have been exciting to see KG and Anrich team up in red-ball cricket. I just love watching Anrich run in and bowl. He is such a competitor. It’s a pity they won’t bowl in tandem, which might put a bit of pressure on Anrich to make a play. I don’t know the composition of the line-up but I am sure Lungi (Ngidi) and Beuran (Hendricks) will provide him with good support,” he added.

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