"The Intensity that Test cricket is played at is through the roof" – Ryan Rickelton

It’s been quite an enthralling last few weeks for Ryan Rickelton. Not only has he been called up for Test series’ against the top two teams in the world, but he’s also taken giant steps forward in the domestic scene.

South Africa recently scored a brilliant Test series victory against India, and Rickelton was part of the Proteas squad. Despite ending up gameless, Rickelton savoured the experience in itself and returned to the Lions to resume his first-class season.

In his first game this year, he smashed a 90 and an unbeaten match-saving 102 against Western Province, and unsurprisingly, made the squad for the upcoming New Zealand tour. It was a performance that Rickelton cherishes, and he had the following to say to Cricket Fanatics Magazine:

“Yeah, it caught a few of us by surprise. We always believed that the hard game was going to come, but when it comes, you don’t really expect it. But it was quite a slog and we’d like to think we were well-prepared for it. We didn’t dominate that game but we weren’t fully out of it either.”

An integral part of Rickelton’s preparation for Test cricket has been assessing the situation at hand. It’s often said that batting is an individual battle in the longer format, and ultimately scoring the runs is what carries the utmost importance.

Normally known for his free-wheeling, hard-hitting approach, Rickelton has modified his modus operandi to become an even more versatile batter. His first Proteas call-up came for a T20 series in Pakistan, but now he’s in striking distance to get a first Proteas cap in a matter of a couple of weeks.

“Heading into that game, I was pretty nervous. I hadn’t played a match in nearly two months. Once I got it going and hit a couple of boundaries, I was able to play the ball once I saw it. I batted normally, and I knew that the Newlands wicket was a good one to bat on.

“In the second innings, I had to bat for two sessions. My goal was simple: don’t get out and face as many balls as I could to hold the innings. I was willing to dig deep and of course, score when I could. It’s an important mindset to have when you’re batting out for most of the day.”

From a brisk knock in the first innings to a stately rearguard in the second innings, Rickelton showcased his discernible potential to great effect. He’s very grateful to be a part of the Test team for the first time, and had nothing but appreciation for the time spent alongside some of the more seasoned campaigners in the setup.

“It was a lovely opportunity to be a part of such an incredible series against the best Test team in the world. The biggest thing I learned was the intensity that Test cricket is played at is through the roof. Whether you’re a batter or bowler, you have to compete at 110%.”

One of the key hurdles to overcome, as a Test cricketer, is the sharp rise in difficulty from domestic to international level. Rickelton has already proven that he’s a domestic hotshot, with a tall first-class average of 52.5, and he seems to have a well-defined plan on adjusting to the demands. In addition, batting positions aren’t always optimal, and in Test cricket, it’s all about taking the initiative and seizing the opportunities presented.

“I’ve batted in the top 5 for the Lions, but more recently I’ve gained experience in the middle order. The best thing about opening is that if you bat through the entire innings, you’ll get to bat with the tail and learn what it’s like to bat with the all-rounders and bowlers. You have to stay true to your game plan and work hard. Everything comes with experience.”

Over to the technical side of things, Rickelton has astutely analyzed the Proteas batting approach during the Tests against India. As a result, he has set out to add more to his batting repertoire than what he currently has. With all things considered, learning and improvement are constant processes that go hand in hand.

“What I noticed when you face strong bowling attacks, there’s plenty of emphasis on the bad balls. When they missed their lengths, they often bowled at back-of-length.

“I’ve been working on my back-foot game, especially my punches, late cuts, and pulls, for example. As of late, I’ve been focusing on adding one or two components and fine-tuning the extra bit I need.”

Fans, be sure to check out the remainder of the exclusive interview with the talented Lions left-hander on YouTube: