By Chad Klate
29th August 2023
South Africa and the Aussies clash in a three-match Twenty20 series in Durban over the next five days, ahead of a five-match One-Day International series in the build-up to the 50-over ICC Men's World Cup in India in October.
With regular wicketkeepers Quinton de Kock and Heinrich Klaasen rested for the 20-over campaign, captain Aiden Markram on Tuesday confirmed that Stubbs – more prominently known as a batter, will take up the duties behind the stumps.
"We've not finalised our team completely, but keeping wicket, first up, will be Tristan. He's been working really hard the last couple of weeks," announced Markram in his pre-match media conference.
"We've had training camps for the ODI series as well, and those who know Stubbo well, he's a guy that will never really leave a stone unturned, so he's spent hours and hours practising his keeping, and it's been great to see.
"I think, for 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 obviously, we all know what he can do with the bat, and now all of a sudden he's got the gloves.
"He's a real, sort of, all-dimension player – I think that's what it's called, so ja, he'll be taking the gloves for us tomorrow."
Markram wouldn't reveal any potential debutants, with a final selection meeting set for Tuesday evening, when the team would then also be announced internally.
"We've not finalised our team completely. We're going to have our team meeting at 6 pm and, if there are debutants, make it a special ceremony for them to ultimately remember for the rest of their lives," he noted.
Stubbs' selection does perhaps suggest a debut for more seasoned glovemen like Matthew Breetzke and/or Donovan Ferreira would be on ice – at least for the opening T20I.
The match on Wednesday is set to commence from 18h00.