Quinton de Kock is being compared to Adam Gilchrist fly in, as legends compliment the young superstar. 

Ex-Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes the 23-year-old’s clean striking of the ball brings back memories of the ex-Australia wicketkeeper.

‘He’s probably the closest keeper-batsman to Adam Gilchrist that we’ve seen since he retired,’ Ponting told BT Sport.

‘Just the way he’s able to come in and really dictate to the bowlers the way he wants to play.

‘He plays off the front foot, he’s strong off the back foot, but it’s the rate that he scores at that’s the most impressive.

‘He slots into that No 7 spot perfectly for the South African team. It’s class batting, really.’

De Kock scored 84 and 64 in two innings and his performances have been vital in South Africa’s dominance in the first Test so far.

This was De Kock’s sixth 50 of his career as he looks to replicate his amazing record in ODIs, which has helped him rack up 11 hundreds and eight fifties.

His two half-centuries managed to impress the ex-England captain, Michael Vaughan who agreed with Ponting’s comparisons to Gilchrist.

‘It’s a big shout because there’s been some outstanding wicketkeeper-batsmen and Adam Gilchrist led the way,’ the former England skipper said.

‘But I think he’s the closest to Adam Gilchrist, I really do.

‘The way he naturally comes out and attacks the opposing bowler and puts him under pressure. It’s very, very similar to Gilchrist.’

Gilchrist played 96 matches for the Baggy Greens, with a record of 17 hundreds and 26 half-centuries at an average of 47.60 and De Kock will have some work to do if he looks to emulate the Aussie legend’s impressive record.

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