England star Jos Buttler has singled out Quiton de Kock for praise ahead of England’s white-ball tour of South Africa.

England’s squad left for Cape Town on Monday evening. Once there, they will enter a bio-secure bubble, after which they’ll contest a three-T20I and three-ODI series in Cape Town.

Buttler, speaking ahead of their departure, identified De Kock as a key man in the Proteas lineup, heaping praise on the opener.

‘I’m a huge fan of his,’ said Butler. ‘He is a fantastic player with an excellent cricket brain. I really enjoy how he views the game and looks to take it on. He is one of my favourite players in the world at the moment, and is brilliant with the bat and as a wicketkeeper.’

The turmoil at Cricket South Africa meant the the tour was in doubt until Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa last week confirmed it would go ahead. Butler says they’ve been following the situation but declared: ‘It has nothing to do with us’.

‘We heard what had happened with the board a few weeks and months ago and we were all expecting that would be sorted out for our tour.

‘I’d been reading in the paper that the tour was in doubt but Ashley Giles [England director] got in touch with all the players to say we’re confident it will go ahead, but we’ll obviously keep everyone in the loop.

‘I think everyone’s grateful that it’s going to be going on, especially so close to your departure date when you’re starting to really gear up to go. But it’s nothing to do with us, we players are just looking forward to cricket and the boards can take care of those kind of things.’

Tour schedule 

Friday, 27 November – First T20, Newlands, Cape Town

Sunday, 29 November – Second T20, Boland Park, Paarl

Tuesday, 1 December – Third T20, Newlands, Cape Town

Friday, 4 December – First ODI, Newlands, Cape Town

Sunday, 6 December – Second ODI, Boland Park, Paarl

Wednesday, 9 December – Third ODI, Newlands, Cape Town