Well into the ninth hour of his New Year’s epic, with more than 200 runs to his name, the pain became unbearable for Ryan Rickelton.
All the fancy “dry wear” clothing tech can do nothing to prevent the damage caused by friction from material rubbing on skin, and so amid the highlight of his cricket career, Rickelton pleaded with Proteas 12th man Dane Paterson to get him some baby powder.
Usually a comfort for toddlers, for batters it is normally used to aid sweaty palms. That was not the case for Rickelton at Newlands. “It was 35ºC, I was chafing down there,” he said.
So he pulled open his pants and chucked some of Johnson & Johnson’s popular product down the front. It created the bizarre sight midway through the second afternoon of the second Test against Pakistan, of plumes of powder drifting over the outer square at Newlands. “I don’t think it’s that big of a deal. It’s better than asking Sizwe (Hadebe, the Proteas physio) to rub Vaseline on for me.
“Aiden (Markram) does it before he goes to bat, I do it during my innings. I’m a bit superstitious, because doing it before means I expect to bat for a long time. I’d rather get to the pain and then dry it...”
Which is an appropriate way to sum up Rickelton’s international career — a lot of pain but now, the comfort of knowing he will be opening the batting at Lord’s in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
Rickelton would rather the past be left behind. A determined cricketer even in his teens, he drew inspiration from the great Australian team of the 2000s, idolising Mike Hussey and Michael Clarke. Training was overseen by his father Ian, who served as a sports director at St Stithians College for 16 years, where Ryan graduated.
Despite scoring a mountain of runs domestically for the Lions and ticking every box required for the international level, Rickelton had to endure selectors being economical with the truth and, even when the forthright Shukri Conrad was appointed head coach, the left-hander’s role was far from clear.
Conrad stated publicly that Rickelton was the kind of player the Proteas could build their batting unit around. Then he didn’t pick him. “When he made that statement about me being in the central spot... after what followed, there was turmoil between us. I didn’t want to engage with him, in all honesty,” he said.
Rickelton was still part of the Proteas squad in the Caribbean last year where more frank talks between the two provided comfort. “He’s been pretty blunt and honest with me and how I fit into his team. Now that he’s taken over the white ball group, he’s been quite blunt about how I fit in that team as well. I can appreciate that he is really honest. I have a sense that he does back me and my ability. I guess it’s been niggly about what role I play in the side,” he said.
“At least I now know, we are grown men, we can have that discussion. It might not always be favourable, but to be honest about what the picture is, where you sit as a player and what your role is — at least you can then be judged accordingly,” he said.
If India’s (former) captain and India’s premier fast bowler have insight, then it would be foolish not to extract it from them. They definitely want us to win
— Proteas opener, Ryan Ricklelton
Getting the opportunity to open the batting at Lord’s is an “honour” said Rickelton, who is a quiet obsessive about the sport, and the chance to play at the sport’s most famous venue is the fulfilment of a childhood dream. “I was 12th man when we beat England (in 2022), but the sense and hype around it is incredible. I didn’t play but I know what to expect in terms of the place and the aura.”
Adding to it is the Australians, who Rickelton, across the 32 international matches he’s played, has never faced. “I chatted to Mike Hussey a few weeks ago and it was amazing. I said, ‘hello Mike, my name’s Ryan; you were my hero growing up. I loved watching you bat’.”
Sharing changing rooms with Australian players across different T20 Leagues has helped to soften the aura that a teenage Rickelton had for those donning the “Baggy Green”.
At the IPL, where he had a solid season for the Mumbai Indians, he’s had help plotting their downfall from unusual sources. “I was in the gym with Jasprit (Bumrah), just asking him what he thinks regarding how to get out Steve Smith and Travis Head, and what he reckons about bowling at Lord’s. Rohit (Sharma) also gave me his perspective as an Indian captain about what we need to do and what we should try to do.”
Sharma and Bumrah both faced Australia in that high octane series Down Under last season, which Pat Cummins’ team won to secure their place in the WTC final.
“It was interesting to see what little bits we could get from them. I’m very sure — 98% sure — that the whole world is supporting us in this game. They are definitely willing to help. If India’s (former) captain and India’s premier fast bowler have insight, then it would be foolish not to extract it from them. They definitely want us to win.”
It will be the hottest spotlight Rickelton has endured in an international career that is finally on an upward curve. There’ll be lots of cameras, but if it gets too hot, Rickelton has a solution, and doesn’t care who sees it. “Not to worry, they won’t find anything dodgy, just a bit of baby powder.”
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