De Kock downplays Adam Gilchrist comparison

Playing down his comparison with wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist, South Africa batting mainstay Quinton de Kock has insisted that he doesn't try to imitate the former Australian skipper and just focuses on playing his own game.

Gilchrist revolutionised the wicketkeeper-batsman role with 17 Test centuries, often turning matches with his prodigious hitting.

"I don't try to play like him. It's just the way I play. I don't see myself being like him, I just see the ball, hit the ball type thing and have my own certain game plan. So that's the way I like to play," de Kock was quoted as saying by the Express Tribune.

De Kock's comments came after he flayed Australian bowlers in the second Test between the two sides by smashing a blistering knock of 104 runs to guide the Proteas to a potential match-winning lead of 241 runs on Monday.

At stumps, Australia were still trailing by 120 runs, with Usman Khawaja (unbeaten at 56) and skipper Steve Smith (unbeaten at 18) batting at the crease.

The 23-year-old South African wicket-keeper has now notched up a total of 540 runs in the current calendar year with an average of 80, which is the best in the year so far.

Reflecting on the same, Kock said, "Some days I can get off to a good start and keep a good momentum for the team, and some days I am going to need to grind it out. The conditions determine how I play, I guess."

De Kock will now aim to add more runs to his account when his side will begin the second innings in the ongoing second Test in Hobart.