Ryan Rickelton is the leading contender to take Tony de Zorzi’s place in the Proteas T20 World Cup squad should the latter be ruled out through injury.
Rickelton strengthened his case on Saturday with his second century of the SA20 season, smashing 113* off 60 balls for MI Cape Town against the Joburg Super Kings.
The left-hander is the leading run-scorer in SA20, with 317 in six innings at an average of 63.40 and a strike rate of 172.28, numbers that have reignited debate around his omission from South Africa’s T20 World Cup squad.
That conversation has gained further traction after De Zorzi was ruled out of the SA20 with a hamstring injury, raising the prospect of a late change to the Proteas squad ahead of the global showpiece in India and Sri Lanka next month.
Proteas chief selector Patrick Moroney admitted he expected scrutiny around Rickelton’s absence when the squad was named.
“I was under no illusion that people wouldn’t ask why Ryan Rickelton wasn’t there,” Moroney told Rapport last week.
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Rickelton’s omission – along with Tristan Stubbs – and the selection of De Zorzi and Jason Smith were among the biggest talking points following the announcement. Rickelton already has 18 T20I caps, compared to just two each for De Zorzi and Smith.
However, Moroney stressed the decision was not a straight shootout between Rickelton and De Zorzi.
“The choice was between Ryan and Quinton de Kock, not between Ryan and Tony or Jason,” he explained.
That assessment contrasts with comments made by Proteas coach Shukri Conrad in November, when he said both De Kock and Rickelton could feature in the same squad.
“It would be very difficult with the balance of the team,” Moroney said. “We looked at guys who could take on the powerplay, and between those three names [De Kock, captain Aiden Markram and Rickelton] we had room for two. Quinny and Aiden will open, with Tony at No 3,”
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Despite De Zorzi’s relatively modest T20 career strike rate of 119.26, Moroney backed his explosiveness.
“We believe Tony is versatile enough that if we have a good powerplay, he can move down the order and play a role later on.”
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