Brief profile of Stephen Stubbings by Matthew Reed

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Player:

SD Stubbings

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DateLine: 14th November 2005

 

Somehow, despite the vagaries of County Ground regime changes, inexplicable non-selection and public disputes about his contract, Steve Stubbings is due to start his tenth season with Derbyshire in 2006. A left handed opener who’s watchful instincts have often led to his non-selection for limited-overs matches, Stubbings enjoyed the solidity of constant selection in 2005, and even cemented a place in the one day team after an aggressive 66 at Maidstone helped set Derbyshire on their way to their first ever score over 300 in the Sunday league. Through no fault of his own, controversy embroiled him on the eve of the 1999 season, when then skipper Dominic Cork named Stubbings as one of four players on the staff who he would rather have saved money on. Unsurprisingly, Stubbings was frequently overlooked that season, and when he did get a First-team outing he rarely made significant runs. However, full seasons in the Derbyshire horror campaigns of 2000 and 2001 saw Stubbings record his maiden century and his maiden 1,000 runs in a season, which won him his county cap. Despite another poor season in 2003, Derbyshire overlooked Stubbings until late August, and 350 runs in 7 innings showed what folly that had been. Despite being born in Huddersfield, Stubbings has a strong Australian accent after his upbringing in Victoria, although he has stated his desire to play for England. After some patchy seasons, that is unlikely to happen, although 2005 was his best ever campaign, with 1,126 runs at 40.21, although he has now made three scores between 96 and 98* without reaching an elusive first century in List A cricket. However, as Stubbings will still only be 28 when the 2006 season commences, he has plenty of time to still achieve that (and plenty more) in his career.

 

 

(November 2005)

 

(Article: Copyright © 2005 Matthew Reed)