Paterson, Rickelton crack the nod for second Test against Sri Lanka

South Africa have made two injury-enforced changes to the side to take on Sri Lanka in the second Test in Gqeberha starting on Thursday, after winning the first Test in Durban by 233 runs last week.

Ryan Rickelton and Dane Paterson come in for Wiaan Mulder (finger injury) and Gerald Coetzee (groin injury).

“When you look at how we’ve made up our team, we’ve always wanted to have as many runs as we can,” said skipper Temba Bavuma at the pre-match press conference.

“Rickelton coming in as the extra batter gives us that opportunity and that also encourages us to play in the [attacking] manner we’ve been speaking about.”

Rickelton is an accomplished first-class batter but has a slow start to his Test career, averaging in the low 20s after 12 innings.

Bavuma and coach Shukri Conrad had several options to replace the two injured players. Senuran Muthusamy is in the squad and can fill the all-rounder role that Mulder vacates, while 18-year-old Kwena Maphaka was drafted into the squad and although a left-armer, bowls at a similarly express pace to Coetzee.

Warriors captain Matthew Breetzke was also drafted into the squad after the announcement of Mulder’s injury.

“If you look at all our bowlers, he’s the one guy that can hit the stumps consistently,” Bavuma said about Paterson, who has accumulated his five Test caps across four years.

“St George’s is one of those wickets where LBW and bowled, even the nick off, become more predominant in terms of wicket-taking options.

“So he adds that variety to us as a team, having a guy that can target the stumps more.

“In terms of a skills point of view, there’s not many guys out there better than Patto in terms of getting the ball up there, swinging it and nipping it around.”

Maphaka, meanwhile, is being slowly introduced to the Test environment.

“It’s nice to have him in the Test team,” Bavuma said about the 18-year-old. “He’s a lovely young guy. I played with him a bit at the Lions.

“He’s thrilled and ecstatic to be part of the Test team. He knows there’s still certain things he needs to do to be one of the main guys with the ball.”

Muthusamy’s role with the ball is similar to that of Maharaj, both being left-arm finger spinners. Bavuma mentioned Aiden Markram as an option if the side needs another spinner.

Ten years on

St George’s Park Cricket Ground in Gqeberha is a special venue for the captain. It’s where he made his Test debut 10 years ago against the West Indies in a rain-affected match that was drawn.

Some showers are expected late on day two and throughout day five but they shouldn’t affect the outcome of the match.

“I’ve got less hair,” Bavuma joked about how he’s changed since making his Test debut.

“In terms of the way I view the game, I see it a bit differently. When I came here as a 24-year-old, I was naive to a lot of things.

“Now, 10 years later, having gone through the journey, the ups and downs, you appreciate things a lot more. You don’t take things for granted and you try to find moments and memories in everything that is happening around you.”

The captain said there was likely to be something in the wicket for everyone.

“I’ve always enjoyed playing at St Georges,” said Bavuma. “It’s one of the better wickets within the country.

“There’s something in it for the bowlers with the new ball and for the batters as well once the ball gets soft.

“The spinners also come into play later on in the game. It accommodates everyone and makes it a proper test of your skills.”

It is expected to play slower than traditional South African wickets, which could favour Sri Lanka.

“What we know is that [the wicket] probably won’t be as quick as what we’re accustomed to,” said Bavuma.

“The adjustment will happen after day one and we’ll play accordingly.” DM

Play at St George’s Park starts at 10.00am on Thursday.