Jozi Stars batsman Ryan Rickelton will be afforded another chance to step out of the shadow of West Indian batsman Chris Gayle, come Saturday’s key Mzansi Super League clash at the Wanderers.

Rickelton and Gayle opened the batting in the Stars’ first match of the tournament. The latter has since left for a stint with the Kerala Kings in Sharjah’s T10 League.

The hard-hitting Rickelton, meanwhile, struck a match-winning 91 in the West Indian’s absence earlier this week, as the Stars beat the Paarl Rocks.

‘It has been awesome. To walk out with Chris, the master of T20 cricket, it is something you never think is going to happen. He has helped me with things going forward,’ said Rickelton.

The Stars have been boosted by the arrival of fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, batsman Reeza Hendricks and all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius. The trio recently returned from the Proteas’ limited-overs tour of Australia.

‘We have had Kagiso, Reeza and Dwaine all come back to training, so that just picks us all up to a different level. They bring plenty of energy into the environment. KG is a good mate of mine. So, I can sponge off him quite easily, and I am quite pleased about that,’ added Rickelton.

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