Rickelton ready to shine in World Test Championship Final

This will be the first time many members of the Proteas squad, including Rickelton, will get the chance to play a Test match at Lord’s. However, the significance of competing for the ICC World Test Championship mace outweighs any pressure that comes with the historic borth London venue.

"I'm trying not to think about it in my honesty. I had the pleasure of being, we played England. I was the 12th player for that game. So I have a feeling of what the experience is about. Hopefully the occasion won't get too grand and I can lean back on that experience just just to know what I'm going to expect.

But, yeah, one occasion, it's gonna be not just my first Test match here. A lot of the group's first Test match there, and the guys are buzzing for it. So, obviously, we're here trying to prepare and make sure that we as best set and ready to go for it. But what a grand opportunity to represent South Africa to be in a final as well and have a crack at the mace.”

South Africa have a glittering record at Lord's with five wins out of their seven Test matches since their readmission in 1991. They were victorious in their last visit there in 2022, beating England by an innings and 12 runs courtesy of Kagiso Rabada's glittering 5/52 and 2/27 in the first and second innings.

Another milestone awaits Rickelton as he prepares to face Australia in red-ball cricket for the first time - a formidable challenge given the experience and pedigree of their bowling attack.

The Australian quartet of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon has formed the backbone of their bowling unit for nearly a decade, consistently delivering world-class performances in Test cricket.

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