Latest news with #Rickelton
IOL News
17 hours ago
- General
- IOL News
Proteas impress with the bat in warm-up ahead of WTC final
Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma scored a solid 58 against Zimbabwe on Wednesday, Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix It is safe to say that South Africa ticked their boxes on Day Two at the Arundel Castle Cricket Ground on Wednesday, with captain Temba Bavuma, Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs showing promising signs ahead of next week's World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord's. Having lost the opening day of the warm-up match against Zimbabwe to rain on Tuesday, South Africa won the toss on Wednesday and sent Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton in to open the batting. Batting first was always in the plans of coach Shukri Conrad, who emphasised after the rained-out opening day that the priority was to give the batters time in the middle while allowing the bowlers to rest. A clash of two giants awaits at Lord's in a week 🇿🇦🇦🇺 Who will get their hands on the coveted trophy 🏆#WTC25 | #SSCricket — SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) June 4, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Markram lasted only 5.3 overs, facing 15 deliveries before he was undone by Alex Falao (1/76). Wiaan Mulder (26) was next in and shared a 65-run partnership, with Rickelton before falling to Tanaka Chivanga (1/54). Captain Bavuma then came in at No 4, and the runs started to flow. The 35-year-old joined Rickelton in the middle, and the pair continued their excellent home summer form, in which both scored two centuries. Rickelton reached a composed half-century before retiring not out on 62, while Bavuma matched the milestone and also retired on 58. Between them, they struck 22 fours. Tristan Stubbs, who also enjoyed a prolific domestic season with two centuries, played a more measured knock. His 58 came off 120 balls and included only four fours and a six. David Bedingham (23* retired), Tony de Zorzi (28* retired) and Kyle Verreynne (9*) all spent time in the middle as South Africa declared their first innings on 312/3. With just under an hour left in the day, Bavuma gave the Duke ball to his frontline bowlers, Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen. The new-ball pair took time to find rhythm, but Rabada eventually struck, removing Brian Bennett — a wicket that likely brought relief to the fast bowler, who remains under scrutiny following a recent drug ban. Though only a warm-up, attention was on Rabada's ability to hit his stride early, as he has done throughout his Test career. He bowled four overs, finishing with 1/18, while Jansen ended on 0/13. Lungi Ngidi (0/4) and Keshav Maharaj (0/4) followed, conceding just eight runs between them. At stumps, South Africa led Zimbabwe by 279 runs.
The Star
a day ago
- General
- The Star
Ryan Rickelton aims high as Proteas take on Australia in WTC final
Having missed out on selection for South Africa's Test series against Australia three years ago, Ryan Rickelton will be keen to contribute significantly as he opens the batting for the Proteas against the old foe in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord's, in London, starting next week. The 28-year-old now has 10 Tests under his belt since his debut in 2022, and seems to have firmly established his place at the top of the order. That's due in large part to the 259 he scored against Pakistan in the New Year's Test in Cape Town this year. In fact, Rickelton has two centuries in his last three Tests, and he will take on the Aussies with newfound confidence. "Bygones are bygones. It's in the past. I just have a really great opportunity to play against Australia in England in front of my family. They'll all be there, and my friends as well. So, what a cool week that'll be, and if I can contribute with the bat and put in a performance, that'll make it even sweeter,' Rickelton told "I've always watched Australia since I was a young boy, and they've been such a dominant force in world cricket for a long time. So, this is a dream come true for me.' Rickelton's performances of late have seen previous opener Tony de Zorzi shift down the order, and the responsibility of opening alongside Aiden Markram is massive. "I'm a bit nervous; it's a new opportunity for me. It was a new opportunity to open the batting in the New Year's Test, let alone the final against Australia. But, in saying that, I just want to bat, so if that's where I need to do my job, then hopefully I can prepare accordingly and try to set the game up for the team and dig in for a period of time. "With a new ball, generally it requires a bit of searching, which offers up some runs, so hopefully I can do myself justice and face a lengthy or a good sum of balls and back myself. If I face a few dozen deliveries, I'll be able to get some runs as well." @Michael_Sherman IOL Sport
IOL News
a day ago
- General
- IOL News
Ryan Rickelton aims high as Proteas take on Australia in WTC final
PRIMED FOR SUCCESS Ryan Rickelton aims to make a significant impact as South Africa's opener against Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord's, drawing confidence from his recent Test performances. Photo: AFP In fact, Rickelton has two centuries in his last three Tests, and he will take on the Aussies with newfound confidence. That's due in large part to the 259 he scored against Pakistan in the New Year's Test in Cape Town this year. The 28-year-old now has 10 Tests under his belt since his debut in 2022, and seems to have firmly established his place at the top of the order. Having missed out on selection for South Africa's Test series against Australia three years ago, Ryan Rickelton will be keen to contribute significantly as he opens the batting for the Proteas against the old foe in the World Test Championship ( WTC ) final at Lord's, in London, starting next week. Rickelton Reflects on Dream Opportunity to Face Australia in England "Bygones are bygones. It's in the past. I just have a really great opportunity to play against Australia in England in front of my family. They'll all be there, and my friends as well. So, what a cool week that'll be, and if I can contribute with the bat and put in a performance, that'll make it even sweeter,' Rickelton told "I've always watched Australia since I was a young boy, and they've been such a dominant force in world cricket for a long time. So, this is a dream come true for me.' Rickelton's performances of late have seen previous opener Tony de Zorzi shift down the order, and the responsibility of opening alongside Aiden Markram is massive. "I'm a bit nervous; it's a new opportunity for me. It was a new opportunity to open the batting in the New Year's Test, let alone the final against Australia. But, in saying that, I just want to bat, so if that's where I need to do my job, then hopefully I can prepare accordingly and try to set the game up for the team and dig in for a period of time. "With a new ball, generally it requires a bit of searching, which offers up some runs, so hopefully I can do myself justice and face a lengthy or a good sum of balls and back myself. If I face a few dozen deliveries, I'll be able to get some runs as well." @Michael_Sherman IOL Sport
The Citizen
2 days ago
- General
- The Citizen
Rickelton says facing Aussies in Test final is ‘a dream come true'
The World Test Championship final will be contested at Lord's in London next week. Ryan Rickelton in the nets in Arundel, England, ahead of next week's big match. Picture: Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images Proteas top order batter Ryan Rickelton says the opportunity to face one of the world's most dominant Test teams, Australia, in the World Test Championship final at Lord's next week is 'a dream come true'. The South Africans are already in England, playing a warm-up game against Zimbabwe this week, ahead of next week's big final against the Australians. Rickelton will open the batting with either Aiden Markram or Tony de Zorzi. 'I just have a really great opportunity to play against Australia in England in front of my family. They'll all be there, and my friends as well. So, what a cool week that'll be, and if I can contribute with the bat and put in a performance, that'll make it even sweeter,' said the 28-year-old in an interview with SportsBoom. 'I've always watched Australia since I was a young boy, and they've been such a dominant force in world cricket for a long time. So, this is a dream come true for me.' 'New opportunity' Rickelton had been in and out of the Proteas set-up for a few years until recently, and even missed out on facing the Australians three years ago in the Test arena when team doctors said he needed knee surgery. He delayed the operation and while the Proteas were playing Down Under he was scoring truckloads of runs for the Lions in domestic cricket. Fast forward to 2024 and Rickelton was a first-choice man in the Test team and he's now also right up there pushing for a permanent spot in the white-ball sides. His 259 against Pakistan in the New Year's Test earlier this season has ensured he will get an extended run for the Proteas. Looking ahead to the World Test Championship final, Rickelton told SportsBoom: 'Bygones are bygones. It's in the past. This is a new opportunity for me.' He added: 'I'm a bit nervous. It was a new opportunity to open the batting in the New Year's Test, let alone the final against Australia. 'But, in saying that, I just want to bat, so if that's where I need to do my job, then hopefully I can prepare accordingly and try to set the game up for the team and dig in for a period of time.' He continued: 'With a new ball, generally it requires a bit of searching, which offers up some runs, so hopefully I can do myself justice and face a lengthy or a good sum of balls and back myself. If I face a few dozen deliveries, I'll be able to get some runs as well.'
IOL News
2 days ago
- General
- IOL News
We've all played enough cricket to switch from T20 to Tests, says Ryan Rickelton
Ryan Rickelton will hope to raise his bat once more for the Proteas against Australia. Photo: Itumeleng English Independent Media Image: Itumeleng English Independent Media Going into the World Test Championship final at Lord's next week, Proteas opening batter Ryan Rickelton believes they have enough experience to adapt to red-ball cricket, despite last playing a Test in the New Year's fixture at Newlands six months ago. There were concerns around the Proteas' Test team preparations ahead of the showpiece event, as key players had been focused on T20 cricket in the IPL, while others were in their off-season at home over the past few weeks. However, Rickelton told the media, before the team's departure to England last week, that every player in the squad possesses the necessary experience to make the required mental and technical shift back to Test cricket. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The 28-year-old highlighted that leaving the IPL early was crucial, as it allowed time to prepare in South Africa before heading to England for the final phase of preparations. 'It was important to come home and not finish the IPL. I think if we'd managed to finish the IPL, it would have been very tight to try and prepare accordingly,' said Rickelton. 'We have enough time. We've all played enough cricket; we know when we're hitting the ball well or when we're ahead of ourselves, and so on and so forth. 'There's a lot of work that the guys put in behind the scenes. So, we'll be hitting hundreds and thousands of balls over the next few weeks to ensure we get back to our basics and adjust as best we can to the conditions.'
