Tristan Stubbs Discusses Leadership Transition Ahead of SA20 Season 4
Leadership Transition for Sunrisers Eastern Cape
Johannesburg [South Africa], December 24: As the fourth season of SA20 approaches, Tristan Stubbs, the new captain of Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC), addressed the challenge of maintaining the team's success following the exit of former captain Aiden Markram. Markram led SEC to two SA20 championships and finals appearances in every season.
Taking over the captaincy from Markram, Stubbs spoke in the JioStar Press Room ahead of the SA20 Season 4, which kicks off on December 26.
The 25-year-old emphasized the importance of local players who have a deep understanding of the home ground, St George's Park, stating that their passion is something that cannot be easily conveyed to outsiders.
“Although we have lost Aiden Markram, we are committed to our winning philosophy. Our squad includes many local players from Port Elizabeth who truly grasp what it means to play at St. George's Park. This passion will hopefully motivate the entire team to replicate the intensity we've demonstrated in previous seasons and continue our success,” he remarked.
Markram's contributions to SEC were significant, not just in terms of leadership but also through his performance on the field. He ranks as the league's third-highest run-scorer with 967 runs from 36 matches, averaging 34.53 with a strike rate of 131.38, including a century and five wickets. His bowling stats include 17 wickets at an average of 21.82, with best figures of 2/7.
Stubbs is gradually making his mark in South Africa's all-format setup, having scored 723 runs in 36 matches at an average of 32.86 and a strike rate of 140.11, featuring three fifties and a top score of 66*. Last season was challenging for him, as he managed only 232 runs in 13 matches, with a best score of 43.
The SA20 season is set to commence on Friday with a match between defending champions MI Cape Town and Durban Super Giants. SEC will begin their campaign against Paarl Royals the following day.