Cape Town - South Africa wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock is the
closest the game has to former Australia star Adam Gilchrist, says Ricky
Ponting.
With Gilchrist considered by many to be the best
keeper-batsman of the modern era, the praise by former Oz skipper Ponting is
high indeed.
Few players are equally brilliant behind the stumps and with
the bat these days, and Ponting feels the young Proteas keeper is at the top
right now.
Ponting told BT Sport after De Kock's fifty in Perth:
"He's probably the closest keeper-batsman to Adam Gilchrist that we've
seen since he retired.
"Just the way he's able to come in and really dictate to the bowlers the way he wants to play.
"He plays off the front foot, he's strong off the back
foot, but it's the rate that he scores at that's the most impressive.
"He slots into that No 7 spot perfectly for the South
African team. It's class batting, really."
Former England captain Michael Vaughan was asked for his
opinion on the comparison, and he agreed with his former opposite number.
Vaughan said: "It's a big shout because there's been
some outstanding wicketkeeper-batsmen and Adam Gilchrist led the way.
"But I think he's the closest to Adam Gilchrist, I
really do.
"The way he plays, the way he naturally comes out and attacks the opposing bowler and puts him under pressure. It's very, very similar to Gilchrist."