Proteas star batsman and player Tristan Stubbs was hoping to spend time playing red ball cricket in Newlands this week. When Stubbs took the field at Newlands on Thursday morning, a grey cloud hung over Table Mountain, and memories flooded back.
The last time he was on that hallowed ground, he was surrounded by champagne and confetti after helping the Sunrisers Eastern Cape win their third Betway SA20 title. 'Yes, it was the last time I was here in January or February, so it's great to be back,' Stubbs told IOL Sport exclusively.
The circumstances have changed drastically. If Newlands was packed with spectators that Sunday afternoon, this time the sound of the ball hitting the willow echoed off empty seats—it was a quiet, unassuming first-class match, not a decisive title game.
However, for Stubbs, this held no less significance. He hadn't faced red ball cricket in the middle of the pitch since last year when the Proteas won a Test in Guwahati, winning by 408 runs and securing their first Test series victory in India in 25 years.
Coach Shukri Conrad mandated that all nationally contracted players participate in at least one of the first two home first-class matches over the next two weeks. Stubbs did not need this directive. 'I think Shuks made it official, but I suppose most of us would have played anyway,' he said. 'I don't think anyone needs motivation for what's coming this summer, so everyone did what needed to be done to prepare.'
This summer promises to be busy: there are eight Test matches scheduled in South Africa and numerous white-ball matches for Australia, Bangladesh, and England. As an all-format player, Stubbs is likely to feature in all of them, which has been reflected in his batting—he stayed behind the crease, defending firmly from both the front and back foot, comfortably leaving the ball outside the middle stump, contributing 46 runs off 94 balls.
He noted: 'I only played T20 for eight months, so all I wanted was to hit, and yes, it was cool... unfortunately, I was out when I was doing it.'
Despite the weakened Proteas squad spending the last month in Namibia playing T20Is and ODIs, the real action begins later this month when old rivals Australia arrive for three ODIs and three Tests—the first time the two teams will meet in a Test series on South African soil since the infamous Sandpapergate tour in 2018. Conrad has already built up interest in this event, comparing it to the greatest rivalry series between the Springboks and the All Blacks in rugby.
Tristan Stubbs' moment of triumph was everything! Stubbs was a student at Grey High, watching the 2018 series unfold from the stands at St George's Park, but he remembers that drama well and enjoys the chance to finally meet the Australians in person.
'I am very excited. I think everyone is, just like the public. I have been away for a long time, but I have been thinking about what's coming this summer,' he said. 'If you are watching TV now, all the replays are on. The other day I went for a beer with a friend, and cricket was on TV. I think it will be amazing.'
'Australia is always like that. The last time they were here, I was sitting in the stands watching the second game. I can't say what we wore, but there was drama at the start of the series. The Aussies will be great.'
'I can only speak for myself, but Langs (Ngidi) and I discussed it already in the IPL. We knew what was coming. We are very excited. We had 3-4 months without international cricket to think about what awaited us. You know their attacking lineup. They are quite stable. Mentally, you started preparing a long time ago.'
The South Africa versus Australia series will kick off with the first of three ODIs in Durban on September 24, followed by further matches in Johannesburg (September 27) and Port Elizabeth (September 30), before the first Test opens in Kingsmead on October 9.