Tristan Stubbs handed all-important No. 3 batting position in South Africa Test team

South Africa National Cricket Team coach Shukri Conrad has revealed the team's No.3 batter for the upcoming Test series against the West Indies National Cricket Team. He said that he is going to give young Tristan Stubbs a longer rope as he is confident that the young batter will come out well.

South Africa National Cricket Team are all set to face West Indies in the two-match Test series, starting 7th August. The two games will be important for the team in the context of the World Test Championship and they would want to give their best.

With the series just around the corner, the South Africa National Cricket Team have taken up a big decision. Young batter Tristan Stubbs will be the new No.3 batter for the team. Head coach Shukri Conrad, who is the sole selector of both the squad and the playing XI, has taken the decision.

Tristan Stubbs hasn't played much Test cricket. The right-hander has played just one game in the longest format of the game, and therefore, it will be a huge challenge for him. He will be following Aiden Markram and Tony de Zorzi, who will be opening the innings for his team.

Shukri Conrad, while talking about his decision to make Tristan Stubbs bat at No.3, stated that the young batter is the imposing character, which is needed to face the new ball. He said that the batter's psyche and technique are good and touted him as future of the South Africa. He explained:

"Technique is a big factor because you're going to be facing the new ball the bulk of the time. 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. His psyche and his technique speak to someone who will do that job well. We've got a good one for the future of South African cricket."

I'm going to give him a good run - Shukri Conrad on Tristan Stubbs

Shukri Conrad further stated that he will be giving Tristan Stubbs a longer run and will back him throughout the next cycle. He also talked about giving freedom to the players, adding that results will take care of themselves. He elaborated:

"I'm going to give him a good run. I'd be surprised if we didn't back him throughout the rest of the cycle. I'm pretty confident Tristan is going to come good. We do who we are. It's become quite a cliche now being the best version of yourself, but…"

"Whatever that identity is, you couple that with the conditions that you're confronting and then marry that with what the skills the opposition bring, but ultimately, you still operate with your own identity in mind. That's the only messaging I've given Tristan and the rest of the batters."

Tristan Stubbs has played 18 first-class matches over his career with an average of 50.20. His most notable long-format innings was the 302* he scored against (now-relegated) Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN) Inland in Pietermaritzburg last February