Tristan Stubbs disappointed with ODI axing but excited to put in work on T20 game

Stubbs was part of the Proteas Test team that made history in India with a first series victory in the country in 25 years, but was dropped from the national squad for the three-match ODI series that followed.

Instead, the 25-year-old flew back to South Africa and was catapulted into domestic action straight away, lining up for the Warriors against hosts Boland in the CSA T20 Challenge final at Boland Park.

Stubbs played an important role as he helped the Gqeberha outfit win their first domestic trophy in 15 years, and afterwards admitted he was "a bit tired" from all the connecting flights in a rush to get to the Cape Winelands.

While he says that he was a "bit disappointed" to miss out on the 50-over series in India, Stubbs also understands that he has not quite put up strong enough numbers to retain his place with plenty of batters staking a claim.

In 15 ODI appearances, the Grey High School prodigy has scored 302 runs at an average of just over 30, including a century and three fifties.

Stubbs will again accumulate flying mileage when he jets back to India in the next few days for five T20I matches, before coming back home to take part in the SA20 with two-time winners Sunrisers Eastern Cape.

The fourth season of South Africa's franchise tournament kicks off on 26 December, with final set for 25 January, before the Proteas host the West Indies for three T20 matches in preparation for the T20 World Cup that starts on 7 February to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

"I've always found the ODI side has been the hardest to make," Stubbs told SABC Sport. "I made the Test side and then I was playing Test and T20 for a while but the guys have been in really good nick have been batting well.

"I've had opportunities and I haven't set the world alight so I can't be upset but, yeah, I'm actually really excited to play one format now for the next few months and just put in some work on my T20 game.

"We have the India series then the SA20 so I haven't had that for a while (playing one format consistently) so it's quite exciting. I got this time now before India about a week or so, but I'm quite happy at the moment. I'm moving well and seeing it nicely, so controlling the emotion."

Stubbs will also have the extra responsibility of captaining the Sunrisers Eastern Cape this season, following the departure of Aiden Markram to Durban's Super Giants, and says he will go into the competition with an "open mind".

The Sunrisers management, under head coach Adi Birrell, have built a strong winning culture at St Georges' Park having won the tournament in the first two campaigns and then finishing runners-upto MI Cape Town last season.

Stubbs added: I think (captaining) is going to be pretty cool. I will just back myself and have fun. We've got really good senior players there so that'll be cool.

"Adi's been awesome. I don't think we have to change too much. We just have to keep or create the same culture we had the last few years and we should be okay." 

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