THE Titans have announced the signing of Proteas wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock for the 2015/2016-season.
De Kock joins them from the Highveld Lions. Titans CEO Jacques Faul told the franchise’s official website De Kock “is a match-winning player who can change the complexion of an innings with his repertoire of attacking strokes”.
De Kock has represented South Africa in five Tests, 44 ODIs and 20 T20Is.
He announced his arrival at international level in emphatic fashion in 2013 by bludgeoning three successive ODI centuries on home soil against India.
Six tons in 44 ODIs at an average of 38,83 bears testimony to the class of the 22-year-old left-hander.
Since making his Test debut against Australia in Port Elizabeth in 2014, De Kock has also shown promising signs of maturity in this format and he has averaged 37,71 in white uniform.
A product of the King Edward VII School, a nursery that produced other international stars like Neil McKenzie and Graeme Smith, De Kock represented South Africa at Under-19 level.
He made his senior debut against New Zealand in January 2013.
Against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates in 2013, he blasted a magnificent 112 off 135 balls with nine fours and a six to propel the South Africans to a 28-run win in their fourth encounter in Abu Dhabi.
The belligerent opener has since become an integral part of the Proteas’ success, which has seen them move to No. 3 on the ICC’s list of one-day teams. He is the first choice wicketkeeper for South Africa in all three formats and was particularly brilliant in that department in the Cricket World Cup. His blinder to remove Kusal Perera proved to be a pivotal psychological moment in the quarter-finals against Sri Lanka. De Kock scored an unbeaten 78 in the same clash to engineer a nine-wicket win for South Africa.
“I’m excited about the prospects of joining the Easterns Titans while working meticulously at my skills in order to take my cricketing career to new heights. I hope I can contribute to their trophy-winning exploits,” said De Kock. — Sport24.
Quinton de Kock First Class Career
Matches 27. Runs 1 954. HS 194. Avg 46.52 4x100 13x50