Proteas Ryan Rickelton

Ryan Rickelton in action for the Proteas. Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix

Will Rickelton get Proteas gap?

Batsman Ryan Rickelton was left out of the Proteas lineup for the first Test match with many fans wondering why?

Proteas Ryan Rickelton

Ryan Rickelton in action for the Proteas. Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix

Ryan Rickelton was left out of the Proteas lineup for the first Test match with many fans wondering why?

New Proteas coach Shukri Conrad and new captain Temba Bavuma have plenty to consider ahead of the second Test match against the West Indies at the Wanderers.

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It starts on Wednesday, 8 March after the first match was won by 87 runs.

Despite the margin and the Test finishing within three days, it was far from a complete performance. At least from the batters anyway.

The bowling lineup was brilliant with Anrich Nortje picking up five in the first innings and Kagiso Rabada getting six in the second.

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Conrad will have to consider his top order following a rather poor showing in Pretoria.

Beyond Aiden Markram in both knocks (115 and 47) and Dean Elgar’s 71 in the first dig, it was a rather shambolic display. No one else got past 30 in the first innings and when bowled out for 116 in the second. No batsman got into double figures. Thank goodness debutant and bowler Gerald Coetzee got to 20.

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So the question everyone wants to know is: Will Ryan Rickelton get a chance for the Proteas.

On Twitter, @werries tracked the batsman’s form. And it’s too good to ignore.

He writes: “This is for 3 4-day series domestically and his county stint for Northamptonshire in 2022 Innings: 33 Runs: 2,028 Average: 70 50’s: 9 100’s: 9 On average he goes past 50 at least once in a match.”

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Tony de Zorzi made his debut with 28 and a first ball duck. Bavuma himself got two ducks over three balls and the returned Keegan Petersen made 21 runs in his two stays at the crease.

Perhaps the surprise inclusion of Senuran Muthusamy will be shelved and Rickelton can come in and bat six with Markram bowling a bit if needed.

Gerald Coetzee is congratulates by Temba Bavuma after getting the wicket of Kyle Mayers during the first Test Match between South Africa and West Indies held at SuperSport Park. Image: ©Christiaan Kotze/BackpagePix

Gibbs, Fanie plead for Rickelton chance

Rickelton has been dominating domestic cricket for the last season or so. When is he going to decide that there is no longer a future for him here?” former Proteas batsman Gibbs told Rapport newspaper.

Gibbs believes Rickelton could be lost to another country like his former Lions teammate Devon Conway who move abroad and now plays for New Zealand.

“It’s bizarre,” Gibbs added. “I would have included Rickelton as the seventh batsman.”

Former Proteas pace bowler Fanie de Villiers also had some strong words about Rickelton missing out at Centurion.

“What are the selectors smoking? How many batsmen in world cricket have scored 15 centuries in 46 first-class matches like Ryan and boast a first-class average of 54.87 like him?” he said to Rapport.

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