SA vs AUS: Tristan Stubbs To Keep Wickets For South Africa In First T20I Against Australia

Young South African batter Tristan Stubbs will be keeping the wickets for South Africa in the first T20I against Australia. The absence of Quinton de Kock, who had been rested, has allowed the team to experiment behind the stumps and Matthew Breetzke and Donovan Ferreira might also get the opportunity.

Tristan Stubbs is one of the finest young talents going in the World cricket. He’s rated very highly in South Africa cricket and of late has been a consistent part of the team. This will only be for the second time when he will keep wickets after doing it in a first-class match between Warriors and Boland.

South Africa T20I skipper Aiden Markram confirmed about the same, saying that Tristan Stubbs has been working hard with his keeping. While lauding his work ethic, he highlighted the variety he brings in with bat, ball, and now with gloves. Speaking at the pre-match press conference, he explained:

“He has been working really hard over the last couple of weeks and those that know Stubbo well, know he is the kind of guy that will never really leave a stone unturned. He has spent hours and hours practicing his keeping and it’s been great to see.

“From his personal game, it adds another element for him to take forward in his cricketing journey. We’ve seen him do well with the ball and we all know what he can do with the bat, now all of a sudden he has got the gloves.”

South Africa white-ball coach Rob Walter also confirmed that they might rotate the wicket-keepers in the team. Tristan Stubbs might not keep after the first game and therefore uncapped Matthew Breetzke and Donovan Ferreira might also get the opportunity.

AUS vs SA: We will make it a special ceremony for them – Aiden Markram on debutants

South Africa has named quite a few uncapped players in the team. Dewald Brevis along with Gerald Coetzee might be in line to make the debut. Aiden Markram said that they haven’t finalised the team but they will make sure there’ll be a special ceremony for debutants. He added:

“We’ve not finalised our team completely. We will be having our team meeting at 6pm [on Tuesday night] and if there are debutants, we will make it a special ceremony for them, to remember for the rest of their lives.”

The first game between South Africa and Australia will kick start on Thursday (30th August) in Kingsmead.