Rickelton to don keeping gloves in Gqeberha

Tristan Stubbs has been axed from the Proteas squad ahead of the second Test against Australia in his home town Gqeberha.

Eastern Cape player Matthew Breetzke has been called up to a 17-player squad for a must-win match at St George’s Park that starts on Sunday. Australia won the first Test in Durban by 214 runs.

In another change, Ryan Rickelton will take over from Kyle Verreynne as wicketkeeper for the Gqeberha Test.

Stubbs scored 32 and 1 at Kingsmead and gave his wicket away far too easily on both occasions, with a poorly executed pull shot in the first innings and a loose drive in the second.

Verreynne was skating on thin ice ahead of the first Test, and giving his wicket away with a pair of careless shots in both innings finally saw him crash into icy waters.

Verreynne remains part of the squad, but the Proteas will have to decide how to shift around their batting order with Rickleton taking the keeping gloves.

“With Ricks taking the gloves there are decisions to be made whether he does move down the order, or can continue opening the batting and taking the gloves. It’s been done before,” said coach Shukri Conrad.

Breetzke, 27, has played two Tests, in Bangladesh (in 2024) and Zimbabwe (2025).

“The fact that his ODI form is as hot as it is gave him an inside lane. More importantly the attitude and character Matt brings and has will go a long way,” said Conrad.

Breetzke averages almost 59 in the ODI format and made a century in the first match of the recent series against Australia.

“We’ve had the opportunity to lick our wounds and now we must make sure we turn this ship in the right direction,” said Conrad.