Tristan Stubbs plays a shot.
Photo : PTI
Delhi Capitals batter Tristan Stubbs has revealed that playing hockey has helped his power-hitting in cricket, after the 23-year-old played a good hand in Delhi’s win over the Rajasthan Royals. After his knock, Stubbs revealed his success mantra and disclosed how playing hockey in his formative years had helped him in his batting.
Stubbs walked into bat with his side on 144/4 in the 13th over and added 45 runs off 29 deliveries along with Gulbadin Naib for the sixth wicket, smashing three boundaries and as many sixes in his knock. He chipped in with a useful 20-ball 41 but captain Rishabh Pant’s (15) bat didn’t talk much.
Stubbs said that the way his hands turn for the spin and for the pace is the same as holding a hockey stick.
“I think initially you get the basics from hockey and I practiced them a lot because you know you got to do it, it just takes bravery for it to connect and play through. The way I turn the hands for the spin and seam is like I’m holding a hockey stick, so it must come from there,” Stubbs said.
Stubbs has scored 318 runs from 12 matches at a stunning average of 53. He scored 54 (32) in his second fixture and followed it up with a brilliant 71*(25) against the Mumbai Indians.
Stubbs scored another 48* (25) in the next fixture against Mumbai. Speaking further, he praised Jake Fraser-McGurk for giving a solid start to the team with his brilliant fifty.
“When he makes runs, he makes the rest of our jobs easier, because when he faces 20 balls, he’s on 50. I think today might’ve been his slowest fifty in like 20 balls. So when he goes it’s awesome, lovely to see him do well, he’s a really good guy,” Stubbs said.
The Protean batter spoke about the dropped catch of Rajasthan’s star opener Jos Buttler, whom he provided a reprieve in the fifth over when he was batting on eight. Much to his delight, Buttler was cleaned up by Axar Patel in the sixth over for 19.
After their 20-run victory over Rajasthan, Delhi are now placed in the fifth spot on the points table with six victories from 12 games, having 12 points to their name.
DC next play the Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday, May 12 at the latter’s home and will be looking to maintain the winning momentum.