Proteas media backs De Kock to turn into Test-level answer to Oz Gilchrist

Johannesburg: The South African media has backed young wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock to turn himself into a South Africa 'Test-level answer' to legendary Australian Adam Gilchrist.

Gilchrist was the dominant force between 1999 and 2008, not only doing the glovework with aplomb but excelling as a lower middle-order strokeplayer, sometimes with impressive effect against attacks already demoralised by luminary batsmen higher up the Australian order.

According to Sport24, although De Kock still has plenty of rough edges in all departments, he is however, already keeping wicket for the limited-overs sides efficiently and would help keep the critical batting department healthy-looking, with the balance of the main XI being affected by Jacques Kallis' Test retirement.

The report mentioned that De Kock already boasts four centuries from just 16 ODIs, and seems tailor-made to start finding his feet as a Test player around the No 6 or 7 slots in the order, similar to the iconic Gilchrist, as he has a similar enterprising approach.