South Africa’s Test head coach Shukri Conrad has confirmed that the promising batting all-rounder Tristan Stubbs will take on the role of number 3 batter for the Proteas in their upcoming Test series against the West Indies, starting August 7.
Conrad’s decision to position Stubbs at number three comes despite the player’s limited experience in Test cricket. Stubbs has played just one Test match to date, scoring four runs against India earlier this year. However, his performances in other formats have been impressive and have caught the attention of the team management.
In a pre-series press conference, Conrad highlighted the importance of technique against the new ball for the number 3 position. He described Stubbs as an “imposing, big, strong, strapping boy,” which he believes will benefit the team. “Technique is obviously a big factor because you are going to be facing the new ball the bulk of the time,” Conrad said. “And he is quite an imposing character, a big, strong, strapping boy, and I quite like that.”
Conrad expressed confidence in Stubbs’ potential, stating, “I’m going to give him a good run. I would be surprised if we did not back him throughout the rest of the cycle. I am pretty confident Tristan is going to come good.”
Stubbs has previously demonstrated his batting prowess in domestic and international T20 cricket. In the IPL, he scored 378 runs at an average of 54.00 with a strike rate of 190.90, including three half-centuries. His performances in the SA20 league were similarly strong, amassing 301 runs at an average of 60.20. Additionally, during the ICC T20 World Cup, Stubbs contributed 165 runs in eight innings, showing resilience on challenging surfaces.
Despite his brief Test career so far, Stubbs’ recent form in shorter formats has positioned him as a player to watch. The South African team will be hoping his aggressive and dynamic style will translate well into the longer format as they prepare for their series against the West Indies.
The two-match Test series against the West Indies will commence on August 7, with the first Test set to be played in the Caribbean.
