Tristan Stubbs Relishes Senior Role and New Challenges Ahead of Ireland T20 Series
Tristan Stubbs embraces his new senior role in the Proteas squad ahead of the Ireland T20 series, sharing insights on adjusting to different batting positions and the challenges of switching formats."
Image Credits: RANDY BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images
Having been troubled by Afghanistan spinners last week in Sharjah, Tristan Stubbs says the wicket in Abu Dhabi looks completely different and might nullify the spin effect.
BEING A SENIOR PLAYER IN INEXPERIENCED PROTEAS SQUAD
Tristan Stubbs has found himself in the senior players bracket of late as Proteas limited-overs coach Rob Walter has selected inexperienced squads after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup earlier this year.
As a result, the 24-year-old has moved from batting at number six in the order to number four as experienced batters Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller have been rested in the last few white ball series.
Despite the new batting position and the different role that Stubbs has had to play in the current squad, he has had success, particularly in the T20 format.
In his first dig at the number four position, the right-handed batter has averaged 48 with scores of 76, 28 and 40 against West Indies last month.
Heading into the two-match series against Ireland in Abu Dhabi, the youngster will have a similar role to play.
In conversation with SportsBoom.com, Stubbs emphasised that he does not feel much pressure despite the bigger role that he now has in the side.
The 24-year-old details how the roles change between batting in position six and four in the batting order, he also explains which position he prefers going forward in his T20 career.
"I wouldn't say there is more pressure on me now. Yes, I've played a bit more which helps and I've played a lot of T20 games to see a lot of things and have been put in a lot of different situations. So, that experience is nice to fall back on. I wouldn't say I have more pressure because in the bigger scheme of things in international cricket I'm still young," Stubbs told SportsBoom.com on the eve of the first T20I between South Africa and Ireland in Abu Dhabi.
"I enjoy the number four role. From where I've batted I think it's the hardest position. One to three you sort of play the same way each game and with positions five and six the game is laid out in front of you. With four it's in between that which makes it tricky. Between four and six, I prefer four because I have bit more time in the middle," he added.
CONDITIONS IN ABU DHABI
Having come from an embarrassing One Day International series defeat to Afghanistan a week ago where Stubbs and all the Proteas batters struggled against spin in the UAE, the Proteas are on the backfoot going into the Ireland series.
The 24-year-old told SportsBoom that the wicket in Abu Dhabi looks a lot different to the one in Sharjah where they were handed a 2-1 series defeat by Afghanistan.
As a result, spin might not be as effective as it was in the Afghanistan series.
I think the conditions will be a lot different. This week the wicket looks completely different. There's a good covering of grass, green grass so I think it will play a lot different to Sharjah where it was very dry.
Tristan Stubbs
ADJUSTING FROM ODI TO T20 CRICKET
The youngster added that the transition from One Day International cricket to t20 cricket only takes a mental switch and has very little to do with any technical adjustments.
"There isn't much adjustment in technique, it's more of a mental switch. T20 is more complete freedom to take the game on. In the longer format of the game your wicket has more value than the shorter format," he added.
Top-order batters Matthew Breetzke and Ryan Rickelton, and all-rounder Patrick Kruger, have been added in the Proteas squad for the Ireland series.
Ongama Gcwabe is an experienced Sports Journalist based in South Africa. In his career, Ongama’s work has been published in the country’s biggest newspapers company, Independe Newspapers, and some of the leading news and sports websites including IOL Sport.