.svg)
Key Takeaways
- 1Stubbs' exclusion surprises given his T20I promise.
- 2Jason Smith earns call on domestic fireworks (68 off 19).
- 3Rabada's injury comeback supercharges pace options.
"In a notable selection call, Cricket South Africa have handed a maiden World Cup opportunity to middle-order batter Jason Smith"
Bold Proteas Call: Stubbs Out, Smith In for T20 World Cup 2026
South Africa's selectors stunned fans by axing Tristan Stubbs from the T20 World Cup 2026 squad, opting instead for Jason Smith's raw power while reinstating injured Kagiso Rabada.
Selection Gambit Analyzed
Stubbs, whose SA20 fireworks and T20I strike rate screamed inclusion, pays for inconsistent finishes despite 2024 contributions. Contrastingly, 31-year-old Smith explodes onto the scene: 68 off 19 propelled Dolphins to playoffs, plus a 41-off-14 SA20 opener.
Rabada's return, post-India series absence, fortifies the attack with Anrich Nortje. Yet Smith's modest T20I record (strike rate 128) risks backfiring—a high-stakes punt akin to Chris Gayle's late South Africa surges.
'Form over reputation in big moments,' whispers the selection rationale.
Under Aiden Markram, this echoes 2024's finalist grit but swaps youth verve for Smith's mushball-hitting. Historically, such gambles—like AB de Villiers' breakthroughs—pay off, but Stubbs' omission could haunt if middle-order wobbles recur.
With de Kock and Miller anchoring, Smith's debut might ignite, pushing Proteas past semi-final hurdles toward elusive glory.
Related Stories
