Why Proteas batsman Ryan Rickelton went under the knife

Proteas batsman Ryan Rickelton is hoping that surgery to correct an ankle injury will open more doors for him outside of the country.

He made his debut in the West Indies series after being overlooked for the first Test match.

Rickelton scored 22 and 10 in the second Test and has since been handed a national contract.

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Rickelton explains operation

“I don’t think I would have been allowed to play cricket outside of South Africa if I didn’t get [the surgery] done,” Rickelton told the Sunday Times.

“It will open a few more doors for me. I’m glad to just be on the way now and, hopefully, batting again in four weeks. Obviously I’ve lost out on the [English] county season now, which is disappointing. But [the surgery] had to be done and, hopefully, I can make the best of what’s in front of me now.”

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“Having the new guys around, having them in the change-room and there being no third party does make it easier to gain more clarity about where you sit in the team and about your role,” Rickelton said.

“It was nice of Shuks to say I was going to play a big role for the Proteas, it takes a bit of weight off my shoulders for now. In saying that, there is still a hell of a lot to be done. The Proteas are still a tough team to get into.”

Don’t forget, he was left out of the Australian series in controversial circumstances. CSA’s chief medical officer Dr Shuaib Manjra insisted he was unfit to tour with the Proteas.

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The 26-year-old has now described how a conversation with CSA convenor of selectors Victor Mpitsang revealed what was ultimately a clear difference of opinion.

“I was surprised that I wasn’t going to Australia [with the Proteas],” Rickelton told Rapport newspaper earlier in the year. “[The selectors] usually call you a day or two before the time to say you’re in or you’re out.

“I was at the golf course at Sun City on the Sunday and Victor called me. He said I am in the squad and the plan is for me to go [to Australia], but there is a medical cross next to my name. I told him I can play, I have a plan in place. There was little communication between the doctors and Vic, and he didn’t know what was going on.

“Vic said he would call me back, he was just going to talk to Dr Shuaib Manjra [CSA’s chief medical officer]. I waited between half an hour and 45 minutes, and when I didn’t hear anything, I called Dr Manjra. I asked why they were stopping me from going, as I have a plan that my surgeon approved. Dr Manjra said I can’t go with [the team].

“After that, I called Vic and basically begged him: ‘Vic, please, I need someone to stand up for me.’ But nobody did. The communication … it was a day before the time, and no one spoke to me before that. It wasn’t a good situation, and I had three hours to try to sort it out, but the doctor didn’t want to know anything.”

PROTEAS SENIOR CAPS ON DUTY

The likes of Tony de Zorzi, who will captain the team, and Gerald Coetzee, who fired against the West Indies recently, will need to impress as they face competition from within.

Zubayr Hamza is back in the mix following his time serving a doping ban while dropped wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne gets a chance to impress Conrad again.

Also in the mix is Keegan Petersen, who lost his place during the Windies series, as well as the rising star Dewald Brevis.

Brevis is joined by fellow young talent Tristan Stubbs and the pair will no doubt gain a lot of attention in the series.

“The squad reflects the next crop of players that are emerging from our pipeline. We also rewarded those who have performed for their respective domestic teams this past summer,” said Conrad.

“The tour will provide the opportunity for those players, together with the younger Proteas, to put their skills to the test in highly competitive, international conditions.

“It will also serve to strengthen the batting depth in the red-ball department, as we build towards the Test series against India later this year.”

The SA A squad heads to Sri Lanka on 31 May.

South Africa A squad: Tony de Zorzi (c, Western Province), Corbin Bosch (Titans), Matthew Breetzke (Warriors), Dewald Brevis (Titans), Gerald Coetzee (Knights), Zubayr Hamza (Western Province), Jordan Hermann (Warriors), Tshepo Moreki (Western Province), Senuran Muthusamy (Dragons), Keegan Petersen (Dolphins), Sinethemba Qeshile (Warriors), Lutho Sipamla (Lions), Tristan Stubbs (Warriors), Kyle Verreynne (Western Province), Lizaad Williams (Titans).

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Sri Lanka A vs South Africa A fixtures:

4 June – 1st one-day match, Kandy
6 June – 2nd one-day match, Kandy
8 June – 3rd one-day match, Kandy
12-15 June – 1st four-day match, Dambulla
19-22 June – 2nd four-day match, Dambulla

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