'LET'S KICK OZ'

PROTEAS opening batter Ryan Rickelton says that the senior players who were rested for the tour to Zimbabwe, are feeling fresh ahead of the start of the T20 series in Australia this weekend.

Alongside Rickelton, four other players were rested for the Zimbabwe tour, including Kagiso Rabada, Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs and Marco Jansen, following a demanding 18 months playing all around the world.

Rickelton revealed that they may not have understood the reason behind the break when it was announced. However, having gone through it, they now appreciate it, feeling fresh and hungry to get back on the park once again.

Rickelton wysed: “It’s been a few of us who have been on the road for quite a period of time, and before the break comes, you might not really be looking forward to it or understand the need for it, but I think looking back now, you know, it was really beneficial to me.

“I chatted to the guys who have been on break – Aiden, Tristan, Marco, KG [Rabada] – they look really chuffed with life. KG’s raring to go again. Aiden looks like he’s got that spark in his eye again and stuff.

“He’s keen to get going as well. So, it’s important to just have that switch-off.

“The exposure you have to cricket can be a little bit too much sometimes. So, to be able to step out is quite nice, and if you look at the rest of the year all the way through to the end of the IPL next year, it’s pretty packed for not just the five of us, but for the collective group individually as well.

“So it’s important to have that break, and the five of us are very chuffed with it.”

The Proteas will play three T20s and three ODIs in Australia, with the first T20 set to get underway on Sunday (11.15am start).