De Kock: India bowlers weren't fast enough

News

Cricket365
December 6, 2013

South Africa opening batsman Quinton de Kock felt the India fast bowlers did not bowl the correct lengths to him, and without enough fire power, which allowed him to reach a century in the first ODI.

The Proteas won the match by a hefty 141 runs at the Wanderer's, thanks to the opener's 135, as well as half ton contributions from AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla and JP Duminy, as they made 358 for four. India were all out for 217.

De Kock felt that India's bowlers were too slow for the track, with Mohit Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar going wicketless but for plenty of runs. The young batsman said Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel were far more dangerous.

De Kock opined: "They bowled a bit short. If they had bowled fuller lengths, maybe there was a chance of nicking it. But you cannot compare the Indian bowlers with the likes of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel.

"Steyn and Morkel bowl at 145-plus consistently and on such a wicket you need to bowl with pace. That was perhaps lacking in the Indian bowlers and I could get behind their line of delivery and play.

"I was looking to survive early on. Against the spinners I was looking for singles, but got a few boundaries as well. So it kicked on from there and it worked out well.

"When I was in the nineties, I was looking to just rotate the strike. But the free hit happened and I thought, okay, today is my turn to get there."

De Kock plays for the Highveld Lions and thus knows the Wanderers well, and was pleased to be able to score a ton in front of his family, who had come to watch him play in his pink kit.

He said: "I have played a lot of cricket here at the Wanderers. My family was among the crowd here, watching their first international match at a stadium. So I hope they are feeling proud."