Proteas wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock is determined to convert promising starts into big centuries when Test cricket resumes.

De Kock relished a solid stretch of form in the four-Test series against England earlier this year, but didn’t collect a century.

He scored 95 and 34 in the first Test, 20 and 50 in the second, 63 and three in the third and 76 and 39 in the fourth.

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‘I played decently, I think. There was a time when I was starting to get grumpy, when I wasn’t converting my good starts into big scores, especially during the Test series against England. I don’t think it was that bad, but I do want to get better. I want to start scoring big centuries for the team – that’s the most important thing that I need to try get going now,’ said De Kock.

The 27-year-old De Kock recently succeeded former T20I and ODI captain Faf du Plessis. Cricket South Africa director of cricket Graeme Smith, however, has confirmed De Kock won’t be named new Test captain.

‘With the limited-overs captaincy, I’ve taken it quite slowly. I’m still trying to get a feel of how to go about things. I’m learning, taking it step by step and not just throwing into the team what I think will work. We are rebuilding as a limited-overs team, especially in ODIs. I think in T20Is, we know what is going on,’ added De Kock.

De Kock and teammates were in India for three ODIs in March, when international cricket was suspended amid the threat posed by the coronavirus pandemic. Their series with Sri Lanka later this year has been terminated as well.

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