The last couple of years have been a roller-coaster ride for Tristan Stubbs, quite the journey from being spotted out in the nets as a teenager to playing for the Proteas in a World Cup final.
No wonder his “mind was going crazy” after making his Proteas debut in 2022. Soon after that the hard-hitting batter became a multi-millionaire when he went for a record R9 million in the SA20 auction, and also started featuring in the IPL.
But that price tag seemed to weigh heavy on the kid from Knysna in the Southern Cape, as he flattered to deceive in the SA20’s debut season in 2023. He also wasn’t at his dashing best for the Proteas.
But Stubbs went back to a mindset of what first drew him to the game. He got that enjoyment factor back, and the runs started to flow in the SA20 this year and he also played a starring role in the IPL, performing under a pressure at the back end of the innings with his big blade.
Tristan Stubbs 72(28) vs ENG
OTD in 2022, while chasing a daunting target of 234, he came to the crease when SA was struggling at 86/4 and fought hard like a warrior until the end. However, it was not enough to secure a victory that day, and they lost the game by 41 runs. pic.twitter.com/zGqj36mnNC
Stubbs took that form into the T20 World Cup where he played a couple of crucial knocks on difficult wickets, while he was also one of the guys who almost dragged the Proteas over the line in the final against India in the West Indies earlier this year.
“I think I’m just a bit older. When I started, I think I played about 20 or so domestic games, and I didn’t know my game,” said Stubbs.
“I think the biggest thing for me as been the mental side. Every game I played in the IPL, SA20 my mind was going crazy.
“But now I have adopted a mindset of enjoying what I’m doing. I’m a bit older and I’ve played a bit more cricket than when I first started.”
Stubbs and the Proteas are back in the Caribbean where they narrowly missed out on a maiden World Cup title.
The wounds are still very raw if Stubbs’ sigh was anything to go by during a press conference ahead of their T20 International series against the West Indies, which starts on Friday (9pm SA time).
The Proteas have had some time to process the defeat, with a Test series win against the Windies bringing some degree of joy. But, while it still hurts, Stubbs seemingly always looks at the bright side of life.
“The World Cup final will come up when you don’t want it to. I’ve tried my best to forget about it. It wasn’t easy, and it still is not easy getting asked about it,” said Stubbs.
71*(25) vs Mumbai
— ADA SHARE (@ada_share) August 14, 2024
-57*(25) vs Lucknow
- 54(32) vs Kolkata
- 48*(25) vs Mumbai
- 44*(23) vs Rajasthan
- 41(20) vs Rajasthan
- 26*(7) vs Gujarat
- 15*(9) vs Lucknow
The crisis Man Tristan Stubbs for DC in IPL 2024 🐯🔥⚡
Happy birthday Tristan Stubspic.twitter.com/arxsZNKijb
“Coming back to the Caribbean, you get reminded about it. But fortunately we are playing where we won the semi-final, so there’s a bit of good vibes there.
“I think the whole World Cup was a good experience for myself and the team. We found ways to win, which I think is an underrated skill, just being able to win ugly. I think as a team, we can take a lot from that; it gives us a lot of character,” Stubbs added.
Stubbs is one of a handful of players in the T20 squad who also featured in the recent Test matches against the Windies.
The Warriors man batted at No 3 in the Tests, scoring a dashing second-innings half-century in the first match, but nicking off quite a few times throughout the series.
Coach Shukri Conrad said he will be backing Stubbs at the crucial No 3 position in the Test side in the foreseeable future, with Sri Lanka and Pakistan set to tour South Africa at the end of the year.
For now, though, Stubbs must change gears again and go into the T20 mode from Friday. He is certainly keen on playing in all three formats for the Proteas.
Tristan Stubbs 🚀#Betway #SA20 #SECvDSG | @Betway_India pic.twitter.com/2OX9EezBcV
— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) January 22, 2023
“I do (want to play all three formats). I enjoy red-ball cricket, it’s the most satisfying. It was hard, but I enjoyed it (playing Test cricket),” said Stubbs
“I really enjoyed the challenge (batting at No 3). Glad I could see that I could do it in the future. I have a lot of work to do, though, because that red ball moves a lot more than the white ball.
“It’s easier playing red ball and going into T20 rather than T20 into red ball, so it should be a bit easier going into the three games coming up now.”
@JohnGoliath82