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Like most of the first-choice Test players, Stubbs was contractually obliged to play in the SA20 instead of the Test series in New Zealand and had a successful tournament. He was the leading run-scorer for Sunrisers Eastern Cape, who won the title for the second time, with 301 runs, including three half-centuries, and a strike rate of 168.15. But, less than two weeks after lifting that trophy, Stubbs has shown he can play a similar way for longer.
He batted for eight hours and 19 minutes to face 372 balls for his 302* as Warriors declared on 517 for 3 against Kwa-Zulu Natal Inland. Neither side is in with a chance of making next week’s final with Warriors currently in fifth place and KZN Inland in last place.
For Stubbs, those are already coming true and he could find himself an all-format international in the next few months. He is already a T20 regular – and a sought-after player in leagues – and could add to his lone ODI cap as South Africa look to build towards the 2027 World Cup, and should be part of the immediate Test plans.
South Africa’s next Test assignment is a two-Test series in the West Indies in August, followed by two matches in Bangladesh in October before home series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan to close out the 2023-2025 World Test Championship cycle. They are expected to have Bavuma back to lead the side but with Dean Elgar’s retirement, Tony de Zorzi (incidentally the last batter to get a triple-century in South Africa) is expected to move up to open and there could be space for Stubbs in the middle order.
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