Not Temba Bavuma! Hayden Picks SA's 'X-Factor' Player For WTC Final Vs Australia

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Matthew Hayden believes Tristan Stubbs could be South Africa's x-factor in the ICC World Test Championship final, comparing him to Kevin Pietersen.
Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden believes Tristan Stubbs could be the X-factor for South Africa in the upcoming ICC World Test Championship final against Australia, drawing comparisons to the playing style of ex-England batter Kevin Pietersen.
In South Africa's recent warm-up game against Zimbabwe at Arundel, Stubbs batted at number five, a position he might retain for the WTC final at Lord's from June 11-15. Stubbs has scored 500 runs in nine Tests, averaging 33.33, with two centuries and a fifty.
'Someone like Tristan Stubbs, I think, can be a bit of an X-factor. Similar to the way that Kevin Pietersen was in the England side against Australia, who can come out, start to dominate," Hayden commented on Star Sports.
Led by Temba Bavuma, South Africa reached their first-ever WTC final after topping the 2023-25 standings with a 69.44-point percentage. Stubbs is also in consideration for the number three spot, competing with Tony de Zorzi for that position.
Stubbs recently played for Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2025, scoring 300 runs in 14 games at an average of 50 and a strike rate of 150.75. Although he didn't score a fifty in the tournament, Hayden believes his big-hitting ability will be a significant threat in the WTC final.
'We've seen his hitting ability through the IPLs. Not that that has a great deal of relevance, but he's a very powerful unit. A very conventional hitter of the ball. Tall, big body position, and great hands that he can hit down the ground with. So he can be a threat," Hayden concluded.
However, Hayden is still deeply entrenched in his support for home country – Australia, commenting during the launch of Australian Summer of Cricket 2025/26 that, '(But) for this cycle, Australia has been a very dominant team. I base that largely on the fact that you need to take 20 wickets to win a Test — and this team has a world-class pace trio, much like in Stephen's (Steve Waugh's) era. They also have a world-class spinner, and I'm sure we all appreciate the skill of Nathan Lyon. That's been such a key part of how Australian teams are built."
(with IANS inputs)
First Published:
June 09, 2025, 15:12 IST

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