Russell Domingo: “Quinton de Kock is one of the best players South Africa’s ever had”
Sunrisers Eastern Cape assistant coach Russell Domingo has expressed his excitement at reuniting with Quinton de Kock ahead of Betway SA20 Season 4, calling the star wicketkeeper-batter “one of the best players South Africa’s ever had.”
De Kock, 32, made headlines earlier this week with a surprise return to international cricket after a 15-month hiatus, having been named in the Proteas’ T20I and ODI squads for the upcoming tour of Pakistan.
For SA20 Season 4, he makes a franchise move from Durban’s Super Giants to the two-time champions, Sunrisers Eastern Cape, adding more firepower to an already stacked batting line-up.
Domingo and De Kock reunite at Sunrisers
Domingo and De Kock share a long-standing relationship, with the former South Africa head coach overseeing the early stages of De Kock’s international career. Their bond extends beyond cricket, with the two known to enjoy deep-sea angling together — a point Betway SA20 commentator Dale Steyn joked about by calling Domingo “the worst fisherman I’ve met.”
“We are ecstatic to have Quinton,” Domingo said. “We were looking for a left-hand opener and we snuck in with one of the best players South Africa’s ever had.”
De Kock joins a top-order packed with power
Domingo believes the addition of De Kock will elevate the Sunrisers’ top order, forming a potent combination with Jordan Hermann, Matthew Breetzke, Tristan Stubbs, and Jonny Bairstow.
“With the likes of him and Jordan in the mix, and Jonny Bairstow, it’s a fantastic top three for us,” Domingo said.
Sunrisers’ bowling attack stacked with pace and depth
The Sunrisers have also reinforced their bowling unit with serious firepower. Leading the pace attack is Marco Jansen, the SA20 Season 3 MVP, alongside Anrich Nortje and New Zealand’s Adam Milne.
Backing them up is a strong domestic core featuring Lutho Sipamla and Beyers Swanepoel, both of whom Domingo believes offer crucial depth and local knowledge.
“On top of the pace we have, there’s Lutho Sipamla and Beyers Swanepoel, two of the best domestic bowlers in the country,” he said. “They know how to bowl under these conditions.”
“Beyers has played a lot of cricket here. Lutho played quite a lot for the Warriors before moving to the Lions. He’s another PE boy. Obviously, Marco’s MVP last year too. So, I think we’ve got a lot of good bases covered.”
Sunrisers eye third SA20 title
With a strengthened top order and a well-rounded bowling unit, Sunrisers Eastern Cape are gearing up as one of the early favorites for Betway SA20 Season 4. And with Quinton de Kock now in the mix, the team is hoping to continue its winning momentum with a third title on the horizon.
