THE X-MAN

Zaahier Adams

Tristan Stubbs’ fearlessness has created a fever pitch of anticipation ahead of the T20 World Cup.

FOR 44 minutes in the southwest of England Tristan Stubbs was having the time of his life.

He only faced 28 balls during that period. But it was long enough to bash two fours and eight sixes, most of them breathtaking in their design.

Throughout his innings on that balmy night in Bristol he wore a smile of someone that had just won the lottery. And it certainly proved to be the winning ticket for this surf-loving, hockey-playing rookie from Knysna who showed that he can hit a long ball.

In this ever-changing cricket landscape, it was the equivalent of the lucky numbers for it earned him R9.2 million at the recent SA20 auction.

For a 22-year-old kid that’s still studying for a marketing degree at Nelson Mandela University that’s an awful lot of money, who will suddenly find out he has plenty of new friends to take out for drinks.

“I still live with my two flat-mates and I took them out for a quiet dinner to celebrate,” Stubbs told IOL Sport.

The timing of Stubbs’ spectacular intervention, in every sense, has created a fever pitch of anticipation ahead of the T20 World Cup with the youngster adding that much-needed X-factor to the Proteas batting line-up.

It almost comes as no surprise that Stubbs counts Quinton de Kock among his close friends in the national team dressing room. They may be almost a decade apart in age but the duo have plenty in common - none more so than their simplistic approach to batting.

De Kock’s mantra is, of course, “see-ball, hitball”. Stubbs simply just aims for the sightscreen.

“Honestly, I’ve walked out to the middle and told myself just get one, and then get down to the other side. But then I hit my first ball for six!

“So, I just try to watch the ball and then react to whatever the body does.”

With so many South African players carrying scars of previous major ICC tournament failures, it is this fearless approach that the Proteas will be banking on Down Under.

“I’ve never been to Australia and I’m just really excited to get down there,” Stubbs said. “I’m in the gym getting ready. The bigger boundaries just mean better cricket shots.”

In addition to his powerful hitting, Stubbs bowls off-spin and is an all-action fielder both in the inner ring and on the boundary.

It seems like the Proteas have finally found their superhero that can bring the silverware home.