The first Test between Pakistan and South Africa at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore entered a thrilling fourth day, with the visitors chasing a challenging 277-run target on a sharply turning track. However, Pakistan’s spin attack, led by Noman Ali, ensured that South Africa’s hopes took a severe hit. The Proteas were reduced to 137 for 6, still needing 140 more runs to clinch the match. Among the major disappointments for the touring side was middle-order batter Tristan Stubbs, whose poor form continued, triggering a wave of online criticism from fans.
Tristan Stubbs’ lean patch continues in Test cricket
Stubbs’ rough run with the bat stretched further as he failed to make an impact yet again. Batting in the second innings, the right-hander managed to score only 2 runs before being dismissed by Noman. It was a flighted delivery that gripped and turned sharply, forcing Stubbs into a mistimed reverse sweep. A faint under-edge was safely pouched by Salman Agha at first slip. Although the batter reviewed the decision, the replays clearly showed contact with the bat before it hit the ground, confirming his dismissal.
The dismissal bore striking similarity to his first-innings exit, where Noman had trapped him with subtle variation, this time caught behind for 8 runs. Stubbs’ vulnerability against spin has been a growing concern, especially considering his recent returns in red-ball cricket. Over his last five Test innings, the 24-year-old has scored a combined total of just 11 runs. His form was already under scrutiny following a poor outing in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia, where he was dismissed for 2 and 8 in both innings.
Stubbs’ continued failures sparked widespread reactions from fans on social media, with many South African supporters expressing frustration over his repeated batting collapses. Some called for his exclusion from the Test setup, while others joked about his inability to handle spin-friendly conditions in the subcontinent.
Also READ: Fans react as Noman Ali’s 6-fer rattles South Africa despite Tony de Zorzi’s fighting ton in Lahore Test – PAK vs SA
Here’s how fans reacted:
Tristan Stubbs is turning out to be a bigger scam than a former South African president! #PAKvSA
— Saj. (@LegalPainKiller) October 15, 2025
It’s painful watching stubbs. pic.twitter.com/mrxy893jBf
— WORLD TEST CHAMPIONS (@Jadejirre) October 15, 2025
Why is T Stubbs still playing for the Proteas? Bwoah umanzi lomntu.
— Ghost. (@Sox_077) October 15, 2025
Tristan Stubbs. #SAvPAK pic.twitter.com/H4OLJhN2TJ
— Ndu Khubone (@NduKhubone) October 15, 2025
Somebody needs to talk to Stubbs or he needs to take a few months off at this point.
— Mayank (@ImMayankB) October 15, 2025
Dewald Brevis cracking all the formats like his idol ABD while Stubbs cracking only baldness like ABD
— Indian George Bailey (@StewartIndian) October 15, 2025
Tristan Stubbs is a fraud #Proteas @ProteasMenCSA. Is his family paying something towards CSA for him not to be dropped after such a long time of utterly terrible form and performance?…yeses
— Dumisani Mtshali (@DumiMtshali) October 15, 2025
I hate Tristan Stubbs!
— Just a Barcelona fan (@FCB_Sbonelo_) October 15, 2025
Tristan Stubbs pic.twitter.com/KqWa9kosFI
— Tingus Pingis (@bent_copper) October 15, 2025
Tristan Stubbs you have disappointed me big time.
— Suheem (@Suheeeem) October 15, 2025
All I know is Tristan Stubbs MUST NOT PLAY in the 2nd Test… the team can’t carry a passenger on a sub-continent pitch
— Harold Siyaya (@Haroldsiyaya) October 15, 2025
Its not looking good for tristan stubbs
— Devesh Pant (@DeveshP79010226) October 15, 2025
Give Tristan Stubbs some time off from international cricket before T20 World Cup. Let him play SA20 and gain some touch. Currently carrying him in the Test team is detrimental to the team and him. Please don’t take him to India for the Tests.
— Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN) October 15, 2025
Hamza in for Stubbs 2nd test, no brainer.
— bouchball (@bouchball) October 15, 2025
Tristan Stubbs bro ????haiiii
— Mbo Salah (@DaMbongza) October 15, 2025
Tristan Stubbs has a batting average of 27 in Tests and 30 in ODIs.
He is already 25. What a shit player.#PAKvSA pic.twitter.com/1bg06SWl6F— Dave (@AFC_Dev17) October 15, 2025
Please drop Stubbs
— sloppyslotts (@sloppyslotsss) October 15, 2025
what has happened to Stubbs??
— kaustubh (@lifesuckssbc) October 15, 2025
Bedingham must come in for Stubbs in the 2nd test
— Sello (@LoloKale) October 15, 2025
Stubbs is going to have a tough month in the subcontinent.. Kuldeep and Jaddu will gobble him up with ease if he keeps playing like this..
— Gaurav Nandan Tripathi | गौरव नंदन त्रिपाठी (@Cric_Beyond_Ent) October 15, 2025
Tristan Stubbs is in the process of completing a phone number with his scores in Test cricket.
9-1-0-2-8-8-2
— Aakash (@AakashCric) October 15, 2025
Surely this was Stubbs last innings, he must be dropped
— Baumgartlinger (@jerry_mphumzi2) October 15, 2025
Stubbs fraud
— U (@ujjawal_isgood) October 15, 2025
Tristan Stubbs
— Neo (@Neezy_Nations) October 15, 2025
tristan stubbs; one of the most useless cricketers ever.
— Mothusi Maepa . (@_Mthusi) October 15, 2025
Drop Stubbs for Bedingham , Brevis for Hamza and Subrayen for Maharaj
— Dark Destroyer (@DarkDes2004) October 15, 2025
Tristan Stubbs is horribly out of form! Sad to see but its been going on for a while now.#SAvPAK
— Lawrence Bailey (@LawrenceBailey0) October 15, 2025
Tristan Stubbs out David Beddingham in next test. #sscricket
— Dylan van der Spuy (@dylanvdspuy14) October 15, 2025
Stubbs has one functional brain cell sjsjsjsjs
— Assad (@kaunassad) October 15, 2025
We need to have an honest discussion about Tristan Stubbs #PAKvsSA
— Views from Kukuterian (@Pm_kukuterian2) October 15, 2025
Stubbs has to take a break from international cricket and go score sone runs at First Class level. Just doesn’t look like the player he was 2 years ago.
— Ivan Henn (@IMHenn_) October 15, 2025
2nd failure for Stubbs and on both occasions he’s reviewed after definitely edging the ball. How does he not know his bat has touched the ball?? Two wasted reviews.
— Dale (@ncakos316) October 15, 2025
Tristan Stubbs must never ever play test cricket again. His not contributing anything. #PAKvsSA #PakvSa #Sscricket
— Lebogang Villa (@Lebogangvilla) October 15, 2025
Stubbs smashing the ball to first slip and then still reviewing. I’d honestly drop him for that alone.
— Father Kerkez (@Ovo_lexo) October 15, 2025
Tristan stubbs is Umar Amin of SA #PAKvsSA
— Cric mate (@Cricknight07) October 15, 2025
Stubbs has to be dropped for the next Test, gone for 2, cannot handle Noman, cannot handle spin
55-4#PAKvSA
— ThePoppingCrease (@PoppingCreaseSA) October 15, 2025
Stubbs shouldn’t play for proteas again.#PakvSA
— Lisakhanya (@Lisa_Mabena) October 15, 2025
Stubbs reviewing 2 caught behinds he’s deaf or something
— Waqas. (@VickzTiwana) October 15, 2025
Stubbs has underperformed for such a long time now
— Mr Mhlophe (@bongz_M1) October 15, 2025
Also READ: PAK vs SA 2025, Test Series – Broadcast, Live Streaming details | Where to watch in South Africa, Pakistan, UK, USA & other countries
