The Proteas red-ball coach, Shukri Conrad, has backed the young Tristan Stubbs to bat at number three during the two-Test series against the West Indies in the Caribbean.

Yesterday, Conrad named his 16-man squad for the season which will be played next month and Stubbs will be going along.

The 23-year-old Stubbs has played in just one Test and he scored just four runs in the two innings while on debut against India.

Conrad indicated that Stubbs is the player he has line-up to take the responsibility of batting at three.

“As it stands right now and all things being equal and depending on the balance on the side that we go with, it's more than likely that Tristan Stubbs will bat at number three for us,” said Conrad.

Conrad added that he has a lot of faith in the ability of the destructive batter and he will get a proper opportunity in the important position in the batting order.

“That's how highly I rate Tristan Stubbs and technically I think he is one of the best around.  I think unfairly people have just seen him as a T20 and a white-ball player.

“I know they're different formats, but you look at the way he came in at the World Cup, and basically commanded his space and imprinted himself on games.

“I think Tristan's going be a hell of a player, and I think he is a hell of a player. He's the type of cricketer that I want at the top of the order, and I think he has got all the makings of a top-class number three batter.

“I certainly wouldn't be giving anybody something to do if I didn't think they were capable of. I'm certainly not hanging him out to dry.

“We've got eight Tests and he will get a really good run and he is definitely one for the future of this Test squad. In my mind Tristan is definitely part and parcel of that future of the Test squad.

“Some might say it's a big call, but I certainly won't be throwing someone in at the deep end and give him a task I didn't think he was capable of doing.”

The first Test will be played from 7 August in Port of Spain.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport