Ryan Rickelton knows the landscape has shifted. No Quinton de Kock at the top of the order, Temba Bavuma all but out of the T20 frame and Reeza Hendricks still waiting for clarity. South Africa, therefore, will almost certainly unveil a fresh left-handed partnership when the three-match series against Australia begins in Darwin on Sunday: Rickelton, 29, and 19-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius.
The pair have 18 T20I caps between them and, usefully, can both keep wicket. With the next T20 World Cup under 12 months away, the selectors have nudged Rickelton towards a senior role he has not previously occupied – part guide, part aggressor. He insists the promotion will not alter the way he plays.
“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,” he said before training on Friday. “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.”
The presence of Aiden Markram, restored to the captaincy after a scheduled rest, and middle-order anchor Rassie van der Dussen should allow Rickelton to keep swinging early. “The way the team is structured fits the mould of how they want me to play too, so I’m pretty comfortable with what’s required,” he explained. “I am always looking to land that first punch and get the side off to a good start no matter who’s alongside me at the top.”
South Africa’s calendar is punishing. After Australia they head to England for white-ball matches, then launch their World Test Championship defence in Pakistan, followed by an all-format tour of India, the SA20, a short West Indies visit and the World Cup itself. Rickelton, Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada were rested from last month’s tri-series in Zimbabwe in a bid to avoid burnout.
For Rickelton, the sheer volume of cricket has already prompted a rethink on how to pace himself. “This was my first IPL year and it’s long three months in India which can really stretch you, mentally more than anything,” he said. The Mumbai Indians gig delivered exposure and a few useful pay-cheques, yet also a crash course in managing the mental spikes and dips that accompany near-constant competition.
“Once you get to the groove of playing a lot of cricket, it can be really nice when you’re playing quite well but it can also be quite dark if you’re not playing too well. It’s more trying to manage the space mentally. That’s probably the balance that I’m trying to walk at the moment.”
Pretorius – 10 years Rickelton’s junior – appears unfazed by the step-up, though insiders believe the senior partner will take most of the early risks. Head coach Rob Walter says that approach suits him fine. “Ryan’s strike rate in domestic T20s is comfortably above 140 and we don’t want to shackle that. Lhuan-dre can catch up later. Simple plan.”
How it plays out under northern Australian skies will be instructive. The Marrara surface often offers true pace and consistent bounce, conditions that can either flatter stroke-makers or expose technique. For Rickelton, the immediate brief is straightforward: survive the new ball, throw a punch or two, and shepherd Pretorius into the innings. Longer term, he has a chance to end the revolving-door policy at the top of South Africa’s T20 order.
Rickelton can already see the challenge.
