Quinton de Kock’s ODI Return Sparks South Africa’s Confidence Ahead of New Season

Quinton de Kock’s comeback to ODI cricket has already begun to pay dividends for South Africa. After retiring from the format following the 2023 World Cup, the wicketkeeper-batter made a surprise return earlier this year — and immediately hit top gear. On the tour of Pakistan, de Kock amassed 239 runs in three matches at an astounding average of 119.5, reaffirming his value to the national side.

South Africa batting coach Ashwell Prince said de Kock’s reintroduction has had a transformative effect on the squad, particularly its younger members.

“I think he's big, he's massive,” Prince said. “With Rohit and Virat coming back into the Indian team, I think Quinny has a similar effect for us with his experience and the quality he showed in Pakistan.

“His presence definitely boosted the dressing room. We’ve got quite a few young left-handers and young players in general. For them to sit with him, chat with him, and bat alongside him in the middle does so much for their growth.”

Alongside de Kock’s influence, South Africa are equally excited about the rapid development of allrounder Marco Jansen, who continues to elevate his game across formats. Jansen was instrumental in South Africa’s recent 2-0 Test series win over India, particularly in Guwahati where he scored a brisk 93 off 91 balls and followed it with a career-best 6 for 48.

Prince highlighted Jansen’s growing clarity in his dual role.

“For Marco, understanding how he bats is important,” Prince explained. “At No. 8 or No. 9, you don’t usually have many partners left, so once he’s in, he needs to score quickly. Playing an aggressive role is something we discussed.”

Prince also praised Jansen’s adaptability with the ball, especially in conditions that offered surprising bounce.

“When we came to India, we didn’t expect pitches to bounce that much. Our batters reported steep bounce, which made communication between departments important. Based on that feedback, we felt we should use the bounce more. It turned out to be difficult to handle, and Marco exploited it brilliantly.”

With de Kock providing senior presence and Jansen rising rapidly as a match-winner, South Africa enter the next phase of their ODI and Test campaigns with renewed confidence and balance.