Stubbs Admits Proteas Batters Must Take Responsibility for Performance
Tristan Stubbs, a key player for the South African cricket team, emphasized the need for his fellow batters to take responsibility after their performance in the second Test against India. The match is being held in Guwahati where the Proteas faced challenges in their batting lineup.
South Africa’s Second Test Struggles
On the first day of the Test, South Africa ended their innings at 247 for 6. Stubbs emerged as the highest scorer with 49 runs. Alongside him, two other players managed to score 40 runs, while two more recorded scores of 30. Tony de Zorzi contributed with 28 runs.
Pitch Conditions and Batting Performance
Stubbs compared the batting surface at Barsapara Stadium to the earlier conditions at Eden Gardens, where the team had a successful outing. He noted that the current pitch appeared more favorable for scoring runs. Despite the conducive conditions, South Africa’s batters fell short, settling for low scores and failing to convert starts into significant innings.
- Top individual score: 49 (Tristan Stubbs)
- Other significant scores: 40, 40, 30, 30, and 28
- Current score when play was stopped: 247/6
Stubbs acknowledged the disciplined bowling of the Indian team, particularly praising their seamers for maintaining straight lines and applying pressure. He noted that while the South African batters had opportunities, they struggled to capitalize on them, often falling victim to aggressive shot selections.
The Challenge Ahead
Kuldeep Yadav, a left-arm wrist-spinner for India, was particularly effective, dismissing Stubbs and two other players. Stubbs reflected on his dismissal, attributing it to the skill of Kuldeep rather than a misjudgment on his part. As the second day approached, South Africa’s lower order faced the challenge of stabilizing their innings to reach a competitive first-innings total.
Stubbs expressed hope for his teammates, Sen Muthusamy and Kyle Verreynne, to extend the innings and potentially secure a hundred, which would greatly benefit the team’s chances in the match.
