Cape Town: South Africa’s cricket team is set to promote Tristan Stubbs to the No.3 position in their Test batting order for the ongoing ICC World Test Championship 2023-25, signaling a long-term commitment to the 23-year-old as a central figure in their lineup.

According to International Cricket Council, South Africa’s coach Shukri Conrad has expressed confidence in Stubbs, who has played only one Test but boasts an impressive record in domestic first-class cricket. With 1205 runs, including five centuries and a highest score of 302* in 18 first-class matches, Stubbs ended the CSA 4-Day Series Division 1 season as the second-highest run-scorer. His standout performance and robust technique have solidified his position at No.3 for the remainder of the ICC World Test Championship cycle.

South Africa has struggled to find a consistent and effective No.3 batsman since Theunis de Bruyn, who last scored a century at this position in 2018. Over the past few years, South Africa has rotated nine different players in this crucial batting slot, with none managing to cement their place. Coach Conrad highlighted Stubbs’s strong physical presence and technical prowess as key factors for his selection, emphasizing the need for a player who can confidently handle the new ball and bring stability to the top order.

With South Africa set to play eight more Test matches in the current World Test Championship cycle, including upcoming series against West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, Stubbs’s performance at No.3 will be pivotal in South Africa’s quest to secure a top-two finish in the standings. The first Test against West Indies is scheduled to start on August 7 in Trinidad.