Tristan Stubbs reveals how he overcame Test struggles with key performances against Pakistan and India
Tristan Stubbs overcame his Test struggles with key performances against Pakistan and India, revealing that improved net practice and finding rhythm were crucial to his turnaround. Picture: AFP
Image: AFP
It’s no secret that Tristan Stubbs has had his struggles in the longest format of the game, but somehow he was able to turn his form around in the recent Pakistan and India series, and he has revealed how he was able to achieve this feat.
Since his maiden Test century against Bangladesh in Chattogram in October 2024 and another ton in Durban against Sri Lanka a month later, Stubbs went nine innings without a score over 50, and eight of those knocks without getting into double digits.
Then came the second Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in October this year, where he scored a fighting 76 in the first innings. In the second innings, though, he was out for a duck.
In the first Test against India at Eden Gardens last month, he managed just 20 runs in the low-scoring match, which the Proteas won.
Overcoming Test Challenges to Find Rhythm in Guwahati
The second Test in Guwahati, however, was where his fortunes seemed to change with scores of 49 and 94.
“I wasn’t really batting well in that period. I just had no rhythm, no flow, and just couldn’t really, like, I had two scores, but they were messy scores and like there was no flow. I just couldn’t really get in a rhythm,” Stubbs told SportsBoom.co.za.
“It wasn’t easy, but it’s part of it. You just have to try and make the most of it and get through it, and fortunately, it’s turned the other way. Leading into the Pakistan series, and especially coming out to India, I wasn’t too worried because I was batting well in the nets.
“I hadn’t batted well in the nets for ages, so I knew it was around the corner, but before then, I was just trying to find some rhythm, and that really took a while.”