Where's Ryan? Proteas advise Rickelton to keep at it as non-selection saga rumbles on

It turns out a new era and its accompanying fresh start doesn't afford one the benefit of the doubt when a longstanding problem is still rearing its head.

That was the case with the Proteas in the aftermath of their 87-run victory over the West Indies in the first Test in Centurion as the Ryan Rickelton saga rumbles on.

The dynamic Lions stroke-maker's omission was a significant talking point, particularly after South Africa's batting folded for 116 in under 29 overs in their second innings.

Shukri Conrad, the Proteas' red-ball coach, had stated in the build-up to the series that he wouldn't select batters just on the sheer volume of their run-scoring, but also take into account the manner in which it's scored.

Twenty-five-year-old Rickelton ostensibly satisfies both requirements with his performances in the domestic 4-Day Series to date this season.

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He has scored 365 runs in five innings at an average of 121.66 and on the weekend, when he was included in the Test squad, notably scored 125 against the Warriors in a knock that took just 112 deliveries and included seven sixes.

Rickelton is not thought to be in competition with Western Province skipper Tony de Zorzi, who made his Test debut at No 3 in a selection that was justified by the left-hander's own superb form - he has scored 507 runs in six visits to the crease at 101.40.

Instead, Keegan Petersen's switch to No 5 and Senuran Muthusamy's surprising inclusion at 7 were rather cited as examples of Rickelton perhaps being unfortunate to miss out.

However, Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma noted that, despite Petersen missing two series last year against New Zealand and Australia