Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium has arguably been the most criticized international cricket stadium in India this year. The slow and sluggish nature of the pitch here is a primary reason behind the same. Currently hosting Australia vs South Africa ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 match, it is Lucknow’s first fixture since Indian Premier League 2023, and it is safe to say that it has provided early hints of a change in fortune for the venue.
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South Africa wicket-keeper batter Quinton de Kock, who plays for Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL, has aided his home ground to improve its reputation on the back of scoring a stroke-filled 90-ball century.
A second consecutive century for the 30-year-old player has resulted in calls of him “deserving to unretire” from the format. For those unversed, this is de Kock’s last ODI tournament as he had announced his retirement last month.
Having Played Just One Home Match For LSG, Quinton de Kock Scores World Cup Century In Lucknow
Lucknow, who hadn’t hosted a single IPL match until LSG were brought into the picture in IPL 2022, was deprived of hosting a match that season as the competition was played entirely in the Indian state of Maharashtra. While the city got to host all Super Giants’ seven home matches during the 16th season of the IPL earlier this year, de Kock played just one of them because the franchise preferred all-rounder Kyle Mayers over him.
Batting in an international match only for the second time at this venue, de Kock scored his 19th ODI century. After assessing the conditions in the first three overs, de Kock broke the shackles by smashing a boundary against pacer Josh Hazlewood in the fourth over. In the very next over, he blasted a six towards deep square leg off speedster Mitchell Starc.
Having sown the seeds of what can eventually be considered as an effortless effort, it was one of those knocks where the left-handed batter kept on pouncing on deliveries bowled on his legs.
With captain Temba Bavuma struggling at the other end, de Kock never allowed the pressure to pile up. He completed his third ODI century against the Aussies on the fifth ball of the 30th over by pulling Pat Cummins for a crunching six.
de Kock, who ended up scoring 109 (106) with the help of eight fours and five sixes, was dismissed between 100 and 109 for the ninth time in the format. As much as de Kock’s knock established a solid base for South Africa, it is true that the batter missed out on an opportunity of scoring an archetype daddy hundred.
Calls For Quinton de Kock To ‘Unretire’ After Stellar Knock
The year 2023 will be remembered for English cricketers coming out of individual retirements to participate in major tournaments. With England needing a spinner for Ashes 2023, all-rounder Moeen Ali came out of retirement to take part in a five-match Test series.
Ali’s decision then inspired England Test captain Ben Stokes to take a U-turn with respect to his ODI retirement to be part of this World Cup. Stokes, however, has missed England’s first two matches due to a sore hip.
Lured by the financial benefits of T20 leagues across the globe, de Kock will be representing South Africa in only the shortest format after the completion of this world event. Readers must note that he couldn’t play in the first few IPL 2023 matches because of international duty. With Mayers occupying his place in that period, it resulted in de Kock playing just four matches despite a brilliant IPL 2022 at Lucknow.
Most recently, de Kock also signed with Melbourne Renegades for the upcoming season of the Big Bash League. Even its schedule is almost certain of clashing with India’s tour of South Africa later this year. That said, taking into consideration his current ODI form, voiced have started to come up suggesting that the former Proteas captain should ponder over his decision.
It is to be noted that early retirements have now become a trend in international cricket. Aged 24, Afghanistan pacer Naveen ul Haq will also be retiring from ODI cricket after this World Cup.
Even New Zealand pacer Trent Boult and all-rounder Jimmy Neesham have limited their time with the national team after declining central contracts. With financial stability difficult to discard for any individual, one expects more players to follow this route in the future.
