Mark Boucher Praises Quinton de Kock For Having A 'Smart Cricketing Brain'

South Africa’s National Cricket Team coach Mark Boucher has heaped praise on skipper Quinton de Kock for having a ‘very smart cricketing brain’. De Kock has been leading the Proteas in the absence of Faf du Plessis, as the latter was rested for the ongoing ODI series versus England.

The reigning World Cup champions are currently on a tour of South Africa and they have already won a Test series by a margin of 3-1. After surrendering the Test series, the Proteas management decided to rest du Plessis for the ODI series, and instead promote De Kock as stand-in captain.

Under his leadership, the hosts began the three-match ODI series with a win, but rain washed off the second ODI. England made a comeback in the third game on Sunday, and the series ended at 1-1.

Quinton De Kock has a ‘very smart cricketing brain’: Mark Boucher

Speaking after the third ODI, the South African coach had some kind words for De Kock. Apart from lauding his cricketing abilities, Boucher also highlighted that the 27-year-old leads the team well.

“We always knew that Quinny has got a very smart cricketing brain. He had a couple of different field placings which I thought were good and he was thinking out of the box,” ESPN Cricinfo quoted Boucher as saying.

He further added, “Quinny enjoys being in the game. Sometimes he sits in the dressing room during Test-match cricket and he gets really irritated because he wants to be doing something all the time. I think he really enjoys it. The off-the-field stuff is the stuff that might get to him a bit. We’re going to have to help him in that regard. But certainly, on the field, he leads well.”

Faf is one of our best T20 players but he needs rest: Boucher

Apart from praising De Kock, Boucher also spoke about du Plessis but admitted that the 35-year-old ‘needs some time away from the game’.

“Faf is still one of our best T20 players. We feel at this point in time he needs a bit of a break away from the game. It’s always good to have a bit of a rest. There is going to be a lot of cricket for them leading up to a World Cup so any opportunity we get to give guys a bit of rest and give other guys opportunities to see what they’re all about,” he said.

South Africa and England will contest in a three-match T20I series that begins on 12th February.

The first T20I will get underway on Wednesday (February 12) at Buffalo Park.