Not surprisingly, the third highest scorer in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2022, South Africa’s explosive left-handed wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock is going through yet another stellar run. With only his Barbados Royals teammate Kyle Mayers and Kings’ Johnson Charles scoring more runs in the CPL 2022 season, the 29-year old de Kock already has 221 runs to his name in 6 matches, with an impressive strike rate of over 131.
This is his first time playing in the Caribbean Premier League, and de Kock has confessed is loving loved every bit of the CPL 2022 experience.
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Speaking ahead of his team’s match against Guyana Amazon Warriors, de Kock said, “It has been a great experience. Coming to the CPL for the first time was a new challenge for me. However, the moment I walked in here, I was greeted by smiles throughout by the team and our extended staff members. It has to be one of the better team environments I’ve ever been in, and to say it’s my first time in the CPL, makes it even better.”
Barbados Royals have blown away almost every team in the CPL 2022, barring a six-run DLS loss to Jamaica Tallawahs. The Royals have six wins in seven matches, and sit on the top of the table with 12 points.
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“I think the best part is that we are winning matches and are also enjoying off the field. I’ve obviously played with certain people before but making new connections here within the team has been amazing.”
Opening up about his experience in the CPL 2022 season, the South African said, “I think this is one of the great ones. It is so much fun. I had never played here before but had always heard great things about the whole experience.
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“It’s one of those tournaments where you will never know until you come in and see for yourself. The quality of cricket on offer has been great, and you can see that by the number of talented upcoming players from the Caribbean who are performing now,” he added.
“With the team that we have, you can see everyone has stepped up and performed – whether that is the experienced players or the younger ones. We want to make sure we can perform well in the next few matches and get that playoff spot secured before reporting to the national team, and I’m very confident the boys can take it from there and bring the cup home.”
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Sharing his thoughts on the team and its players, he said, “It has been so much fun. It’s like another level of how much I’m enjoying my cricket at the moment, both on and off the field. I’ve also really enjoyed the company here, with guys like Dappa (Kyle Mayers), Big Jimbo (Rahkeem Cornwall), and Jason (Holder). There are just so many characters and everybody brings a different energy to the group. I don’t think there’s been a day where my cheeks haven’t had a cramp from laughing too much.”
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Coming into the Caribbean Premier League, de Kock has been cast into a role quite different from what he’s been accustomed to – batting at number 3 or 4 as opposed to opening. “When I came into the team, I saw Rahkeem and Kyle being the openers, so I was prepared to bat down the order. It is something that I’ve done in the past at the beginning of my career, and I’m happy to do so again for the team,” the Johannesburg lad added.
