![Ryan Rickelton in action against Australia [Source: @ProteasMenCSA/x]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1793372081635_Ryan_Rickelton.jpg?type=hq)
Ryan Rickelton in action against Australia [Source: @ProteasMenCSA/x]
Ryan Rickelton notched up his third Test century with his second-innings masterclass against Australia in Cape Town on Day 4 of their series-decider. The cricketer composed 101 runs off 219 balls with 12 elegant boundaries to revive South Africa’s sinking ship against the likes of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
His innings not only helped South Africa regain control of the match, but also helped him unlock a few major milestones in Test cricket.
Ryan Rickelton charts rare century for South Africa
Batting at number six and arriving to the crease at 131-4 in 45.5 overs, Ryan Rickelton manufactured 101 runs off 219 balls with 12 cracking boundaries. The cricketer completed his century with a double off Josh Hazlewood in the 119th over of the second South African innings off 218 balls.
He has now become the first South Africa wicketkeeper-batter in over a decade to score a Test century against Australia. Quinton de Kock was the last Proteas stumper who registered a triple-figure score against Australia, doing so way back in 2016 in Hobart.
Ryan Rickelton is also the first South African wicketkeeper-batter in history to register a Test century against Australia in Cape Town.
He was eventually dismissed the following over courtesy of a run out from gun Australian fielder Marnus Labuschagne, as he made his walk back to the crease at 335-6 in 120 overs.
Ryan Rickelton joins AB de Villiers, JP Duminy with record ton
Ryan Rickelton also unlocked a couple of other major milestones for South Africa with his courageous century against Australia.
He became the first South African wicketkeeper-batter to score a Test century against Australia at home since 2014. While it was Quinton de Kock who previously scored a Test ton in Hobart back in 2016, AB de Villiers was the last Proteas stumper to score a century against Australia in South Africa, doing so with his 116-run knock at Gqeberha in the year 2014.
He is also the first-ever South Africa cricketer to score a Test century against Australia while batting at number six or lower in Cape Town.
Additionally, he is also the first South African to score a Test century at No. 6 or lower at home against Australia since JP Duminy scored 123 runs in Gqeberha in 2014.
