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The Citizen
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Ryan Rickelton eyes Proteas T20I opener role: I won't change my game
Ryan Rickelton says he has no plans to rein in his aggressive batting style as he targets a permanent spot at the top of the Proteas T20I order. With Quinton de Kock absent, Temba Bavuma seemingly out of contention and Reeza Hendricks not in the current squad, the Proteas are looking for a fresh opening combination ahead of next year's T20 World Cup. That task will likely fall to Rickelton and 20-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius, two left-handed wicketkeepers separated by a decade in age and experience. Speaking from Darwin, where South Africa begin a three-match T20I series against Australia on Sunday, Rickelton made it clear that his approach will not change. 'I'm still trying to establish myself in the T20 side but I don't think there'll be any expectation for me to change anything that I've been doing in these last two years. It's just an opportunity for me to hopefully claim that opening spot for this South African side, going into the world cup and further on past that.' Rickelton believes the return of Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen will give him the freedom to attack from the start. 'The way the team is structured fits the mould of how they want me to play too. I am always looking to land that first punch and get the side off to a good start no matter who's alongside me.' ALSO: Brevis silences the noise Rickelton, along with Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada, was rested for the recent Tri-Series in Zimbabwe as the Proteas prepare for a gruelling schedule. After the Australia tour, they face England, Pakistan and India, followed by the SA20, a short West Indies series, the T20 World Cup and the IPL. Rickelton says his maiden IPL stint taught him valuable lessons in managing the mental demands of constant cricket. 'Once you get into the groove of playing a lot of cricket it's great when things are going well, but it can be tough if they're not. It's all about finding the right balance mentally.' Proteas T20I squad: Aiden Markram (c), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Prenelan Subrayen, Rassie van der Dussen. T20I series fixtures (SA times): Sunday at 11:15: 1st T20I, Darwin Tuesday at 11:15: 2nd T20I, Darwin Next Saturday at 11:15: 3rd T20I, Cairns The post Rickelton: I won't change my game appeared first on SA Cricketmag.
The Citizen
25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Watch: 41-year-old AB de Villiers hits 41-ball century
AB de Villiers (41) needed just 41 balls to strike a century for South Africa in the World Championship of Legends yesterday. The Proteas legend ended unbeaten on 116 off 51 balls in his side's 10-wicket win against England. I don't care what you said, but for me this guy AB de Villiers is the Greatest Cricketer of all time. No player I repeat no player can have the skills and shots like him. #ABdeVilliers #WCL2025 — 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐚𝟏𝟕 (@Agastya_Cult) July 24, 2025 – 116* runs. – 51 balls. – 15 fours. – 7 sixes. AB DE VILLIERS SHOW WHILE CHASING 152 RUNS IN WCL. — Nadeem (@cricupdatesonX) July 24, 2025 AB de Villiers smashed a century as South Africa thrashed England by 10 wickets at the World Championship of Legends. — SA Cricket magazine (@SACricketmag) July 24, 2025 View this post on Instagram A post shared by World Championship Of Legends | WCL (@worldchampionshipoflegends) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Game Changers South Africa Champions (@gc_southafricachampions) Watch the highlights: The post Watch: 41-year-old AB hits 41-ball century appeared first on SA Cricketmag.
The Citizen
16-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Coach: Proteas proved critics wrong, are world champions
Coach Shukri Conrad says the Proteas proved a point by beating Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord's Cricket Ground in London, England. South Africa's place in the ICC showpiece was questioned by some, with former England captain Michael Vaughan saying 'they've got to the final by beating pretty much nobody'. The Proteas drew a home series against India at the start of the WTC cycle but did not play Australia or England in the two-year period. When asked again about their 'easy' route to the final, Conrad said: 'We're the world champions. We create our own reality. We haven't played any of the big three? We played one of them, and beat them. This is not me being arrogant, this is me saying 'when we play against supposedly the top three, we will perform'. We're the world champions.' Also read: Verreynne, Bedingham share 'really special' moment Conrad said the Lord's final had been an incredible event. 'It's easy to say because we've just won, but if the result had been different, it'd still have said it was the best cricketing experience we've ever been a part of. It's an absolute spectacle. Everything about this place is spot on. But the vibe, the crowd support, it was wonderful. 'People who take time off and spend hard-earned cash at 25 rand to a pound to come out here and support us. We're just thrilled that we could deliver for them as well. 'Australia have been a thorn in South Africa's side for a long, long time.' The post Conrad: We create our own reality appeared first on SA Cricketmag.
The Citizen
04-06-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Shukri Conrad never spoke with Heinrich Klaasen
Proteas coach Shukri Conrad has played down suggestions of a rift between himself and Heinrich Klaasen. The big-hitting batsman on Monday announced his retirement from white-ball international cricket, having already stepped away from the red-ball game after being dropped by Conrad after the home West Indies series in 2023. ALSO: Klaasen quits Proteas 'Obviously, if you lose a player of the calibre of Heinrich Klaasen, you'd be disappointed,' Conrad told the media at South Africa's warm-up match against Zimbabwe in Arundel. 'But if that's the narrative that you want to espouse, that I'm the common factor, then be my guest. 'I haven't even had a conversation with Heinrich. He turned down the contract long before I was even a thought in the white-ball space. It's really unfortunate that we lose a player of his calibre. He's one of the best in the world, if not the best, among the white ball middle-order batters.' Upon his appointment as all-format Proteas coach on May 9, Conrad said CSA-contracted Proteas would no longer be allowed to skip white-ball series to play T20 franchise cricket. Under former coach Rob Walter, the Proteas often fielded understrength teams in bilateral series, with players putting lucrative franchise deals ahead of the national team. MORE: Proteas come first – Conrad 'I'd be disappointed if it [Klaasen retiring to favour leagues] was, because we didn't have a conversation,' Conrad said. 'I think if guys pre-signed deals prior to me coming on board, I certainly wasn't going to come in there and say, 'Well, you have got to withdraw from whatever you pre-signed'. So without us ever having a conversation, I'd be disappointed if that was why he retired. 'From the little bit I know, I know Heinrich from way back when he was at the academy, kept in the academy sides when I was the coach. I'd be very surprised if he was as short-sighted as that. I think he's obviously got really good reasons for why he's retired, and we've got to respect that.' WATCH: Proteas pursuit of the promised land with Ryan Vrede The post Conrad never spoke with Klaasen appeared first on SA Cricketmag. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.
