Rickelton starring for the Lions
RYAN Rickelton used the disappointment of being dropped from the Imperial Lions’ fourday side to fuel a hot start in the Momentum One-day Cup.
Rickelton’s red hot form, coupled with that of Zubayr Hamza at the Cape Cobras and Grant Roelofson at the Dolphins, will come as a big boost for the those responsible for putting in place plans for the 2023 World Cup.
All three are under the age of 25 and will be pushing hard for top order spots over the next few years.
The 23-year-old Rickelton opened the tournament with an innings of 92 against the defending champions the Titans at Supersport Park two weeks ago and followed that up last week with a career best 157 against the Cape Cobras in Paarl.
“He was one of our frontline batsmen at the start of the four-day competition, but then we brought in Josh Richards and Dominic Hendricks ( at the top of the order) and I think he just went, ‘look I belong in this team’.
“He trained very hard and he is reaping some of those rewards,” said the Lions head coach Wandile Gwavu.
Rickelton only scored 36 runs across four innings in the four-day competition, although he’s not had the chance to properly cement a spot. In the first match of the season, he opened the batting and last month, he played in the middle order and was wicket-keeper in the Lions’ defeat to the Dolphins in Pietermaritzburg.
There are no doubts about where he bats in the One-day team however, at the top of the order where he is more comfortable.
“It was made clear to him, the only currency that matters to me as a coach is runs and wickets. He’s been making runs, so he plays.”
The Lions face a stiff examination in Port Elizabeth today against a Warriors team that usually plays well at home and has also proved a difficult opponent for the Lions in the past. For Gwavu the game carries extra incentive.
“I’m from the Eastern Cape, and it’s my first match coaching as a head coach in PE, so I am very excited,” said Gwavu, who took over after Enoch Nkwe was employed full time as the Proteas’ assistant coach. FIXTURES
Today (1.30pm start): Warriors v Lions, Port Elizabeth; Knights v Dolphins, Bloemfontein
Sunday (10am): Lions v Cape Cobras, Potchefstroom
THE head coach of the South African women’s team Hilton Moreeng is unconcerned about his side losing the T20 series to New Zealand, saying the players and management had garnered sufficient intelligence about combinations and tactics ahead of next week’s T20 World Cup in Australia.
The Proteas travelled from New Zealand to Australia yesterday after losing the T20 series 3-1 against the White Ferns after the last match in Dunedin was rained out.
However, the most important goal for the tour had been fulfilled a few weeks earlier, with the 3-0 win in the One-day series which secured automatic qualification for next year’s 50-over ICC Women’s World Cup that will also be played in New Zealand.