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In what comes as a bold move from the South African team management and head coach Shukri Conrad, swashbuckling white-ball batter Tristan Stubbs will bat at No. 3 in Tests. South Africa are in the West Indies, preparing for a three-match Test series, which commences on Wednesday (August 7).
Conrad, the sole selector for the squad picked for the Test series, has decided to give Stubbs a longer rope at the position. Despite not having too much experience in Tests, Conrad sees something really special in Stubbs and backs him to succeed in the new role.
“Technique is obviously a big factor because you're going to be facing the new ball the bulk of the time," Conrad was quoted by ESPN Cricinfo.
He spoke from Trinidad where the Proteas will go head-to-head with the West Indies in the first Test. Conrad also feels the imposing character of Stubbs might just help him fit into the role.
“And he's quite an imposing character, a big, strong, strapping boy, and I quite like that. I like the fact that at the top of the order, there are quite imposing guys; guys that have got a good aura about them and strong body language." Conrad added.
Stubbs has a fair bit of experience at the T20 level, having played 26 T20Is for South Africa.
He did a commendable job during the T20 World Cup and played a pivotal role in taking South Africa to the final of a World Cup for the first time. However, Test cricket is a different ball game, and Stubbs will have his task cut out.
On that note, let's have a look at three possible reasons why Stubbs at No. 3 in Tests is not the right move:
#1 Stubbs has minimal experience against the red ball
The three different formats of the game bring different challenges for batters, but Test cricket is a whole new challenge, which is far more difficult compared to the white-ball formats. In Tests, you have to play according to the conditions on offer, and for that to happen, playing red-ball cricket at the first-class level is very important.
Stubbs might have been with the South African side for a while, and the coaching staff might have seen something special in him. However one must remember that he has played just a solitary Test coming into this tour.
He doesn't have too much experience in the first-class level either. He does have a good record in 18 appearances, but handling different conditions and a variety of bowlers will be a whole new challenge for the 23-year-old.
#2 Stubbs' struggles against the swinging ball
In red-ball cricket, the ball tends to swing for a lengthier amount of time. During the recently concluded T20 World Cup and also in previous games, Stubbs has been found wanting in conditions where new-ball bowlers find prodigious movement.
He scored some important runs during the T20 World Cup but couldn't quite hold the fort when conditions were challenging. We have seen batters specializing at the position with a sound technique. Over the years, technique has been of paramount importance at the Test level, but Stubbs has some work to do on this regard.
On quite a few occasions, Stubbs will be facing the new ball and in alien conditions. Given his technique and penchant to jab hard at deliveries, he could be in trouble. While Stubbs would like to prove his detractors wrong, it will be a big challenge for the young swashbuckling batter.
#3 It might not be a spontaneous move given the history of South Africa's No. 3 batters
While Conrad wants to give Stubbs a long run at No. 3 due to his exploits at the domestic and T20I level, it might well boil down to the fact that South Africa haven't had a settled No. 3 batter since Hashim Amla's retirement.
Twenty-three of the last twenty-five centuries at No. 3 have come from the blade of Amla, who called it quits in 2019. Since then, South Africa have been in search of a solid No. 3 and tried out at least nine players.
Among the list, only Keegan Petersen managed at least 500 runs, which suggests the South African management wants to think out of the box. Whether the plan works or not remains to be seen, but the decision indicates they want some desperate measures to solve the issue, which has let them down in the last two World Test Championships.
