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Cricket Buzz: Can Quinton de Kock be South Africa's Lara?
South Africa's first class cricket team Highveld Lions coach, Geoffrey Toyana, believes that Quinton de Kock can be a match-winner for the national team in Tests like Brian Lara was for the West Indies. He feels that the wicketkeeper-batsman should get an extended run and the youngster ought to understand exactly what his role is.
De Kock is reportedly vying for the number-seven spot in the Test team with Stiaan van Zyl, as Dean Elgar and Alviro Petersen are the favourites to open the innings for the South African Test team against Sri Lanka in July.
According to Sport24, Toyana said that De Kock struggled last year in Sri Lanka against the slow bowlers, but he has improved his ability against the spinners, thanks to the practise sessions and some technical changes.
Toyana added that it is important that De Kock is backed in similar fashion to Jacques Kallis when he started his career, adding that one cannot bat the wicketkeeper-batsman at No 1, then at No 4 and the next Test at No 6.
Toyana also added that one cannot have a situation where De Kock is looking over his shoulder after just one Test and wondering if his place is in jeopardy, as what he needs is an extended run.
Meanwhile, Rob Walter, coach of the Titans and fielding coach of the Delhi Daredevils, said that De Kock definitely looked an improved player against spin during the IPL, adding that his work ethic is wonderful.
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NZ lose early wickets but firmly in control
New Zealand lurched to 14 for two in their second innings at the close of play on the third day of the first Test against West Indies in Kingston on Tuesday although they still controlled the match with a massive 260-run lead.
Tom Latham was on eight, while nightwatchman Ish Sodhi was four not out after Peter Fulton's poor run continued when he was caught for a second ball duck while Kane Williamson was bowled for two having failed to play a shot to Kemar Roach.
Fulton made one in the first innings in Kingston and has accumulated just 63 runs in his 10 innings since he scored 61 in the first Test against West Indies in Dunedin last December.
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum had decided not to enforce the follow on after Tim Southee wrapped up the hosts' innings for 262, leaving West Indies 246 runs behind the visitors' first innings 508 for seven declared.
Southee and debutant off-spinner Mark Craig had proved to be the chief destroyers in West Indies innings with Southee taking 4-19 from 16.2 overs, nine of which were maidens.
The 27-year-old Craig had been poised to take a five wicket haul on debut before McCullum took the second new ball and Southee wasted little time wrapping up the innings.
Craig, who was impressive with his flight, control and ability to extract bounce and spin from the low, slow-paced, Sabina Park pitch, finished with 4-91 from 24 overs.
Craig had sparked a top-order collapse with two wickets in one over, dismissing Kieran Powell (28) and Kirk Edwards in three balls, before leg spinner Sodhi had Darren Bravo caught and bowled for a duck to leave West Indies 61 for three.
Chris Gayle, playing in his 100th Test, and Chanderpaul steadied the innings through to 104-3 before Southee had the tall opener caught by wicketkeeper BJ Watling for 64 and then Marlon Samuels trapped lbw for a duck two balls later.
Chanderpaul and Denesh Ramdin produced a partnership of 72 before the captain was tricked by a slower delivery by Southee for 39 in the final over before tea though Chanderpaul (84 not out) marshalled some resistance from the tail as they added 86 runs for the final four wickets.
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Former Australian paceman Gilmour passes away
Former Australian paceman Gary Gilmour passed away at the age of 62 after a long battle with ill health.
Gilmour, who was a left arm swing bowler and hard-hitting lower order batsman that had been at his peak during the mid '70s', had scored 483 runs at 23 in 15 Tests including a century and claimed 54 wickets at 26.
According to News.com.au, the fast bowler had also played five ODIs for Australia and had been immortalized in the 1978 World Series Cricket anthem 'C'mon Aussie C'mon' with the line 'Gilmour's wielding willow like an axe'.
Gilmour's career never reportedly reached those heights, compared to the great Australian all-rounder Alan Davidson, given his lighter approach to cricket and training during an increasingly professional era.
Gilmour scored 122 on debut for NSW in January 1972, which remained his highest score in 75 first-class matches, and two years later made 52 and took 4 for 75 on his Test debut against New Zealand.
Gilmour, who recently had been admitted to Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred hospital requiring another liver transplant, had suffered from liver problems in his later life with his former captain Ian Chappell having lead a fundraising drive for a liver transplant in 2005, the report added.