Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has thrown his weight behind South Africa’s young sensation Tristan Stubbs ahead of the World Test Championship (WTC) Final against Australia at Lord’s, starting June 11. With Temba Bavuma’s men gearing up to face the defending champions in the marquee clash, Hayden believes Stubbs could be the X-factor South Africa needs.
Speaking to Star Sports, Hayden likened Stubbs’ potential impact to that of England’s Kevin Pietersen, who famously unsettled the Australians during his career. “Someone like Tristan Stubbs can be a bit of an X-factor. Much like Kevin Pietersen was for England — someone who can come out and start dominating,” Matthew Hayden observed.
Matthew Hayden went on to highlight Stubbs’ physical presence and natural ball-striking abilities, referencing his recent IPL exploits.
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“We’ve seen his hitting ability through the IPL. While the IPL may not directly correlate to Test cricket, his power is undeniable. He’s a tall, strong lad with a big body position and superb hands. He hits down the ground with authority — a very conventional hitter, but with the strength to change games. He can definitely pose a threat,” he added.
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Tristan Stubbs, who hails from Cape Town, earned his place in the WTC Final squad off the back of a prolific run in domestic red-ball cricket. Former South Africa head coach Mark Boucher also endorsed the 23-year-old’s inclusion, crediting his form and determination.
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“Tristan Stubbs has come back and played a lot of domestic cricket and basically forced his way into the Test side because of the runs that he’s got,” Mark Boucher told ESPNcricinfo.
With expectations soaring, all eyes will be on Stubbs to see if he can live up to the hype and deliver on Test cricket’s grandest stage.
