"Technique is obviously a big factor because you're going to be facing the new ball the bulk of the time," Conrad said from Trinidad, where South Africa will play West Indies in the first of their two Tests from Wednesday. "And he's quite an imposing character, a big, strong, strapping boy, and I quite like that. I like the fact that at the top of the order, there are quite imposing guys; guys that have got a good aura about them and strong body language."

Bavuma was forced to withdraw from the Boxing Day Test against India with a left hamstring injury, a month after he suffered a right hamstring injury at the ODI World Cup. He is fully rehabilitated after a lengthy off-season and last week said he was ready to take on the responsibility of the No. 4 spot, as South Africa's most experienced batter and one of only three squad members (Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj are the others) with more than 50 Test caps. That doesn't mean Bavuma needs protecting, but that he needs players who can bat around him and lay a foundation. And Stubbs has been identified as someone who can do that. "His psyche and his technique speak to someone who will do that job really well," Conrad said. "We've got a good one for the future of South African cricket."

"We do who we are. It's become quite a cliche now being the best version of yourself, but"

It was on that tour that Stubbs was identified as a possible long-term pick for the No. 3 spot and Conrad has all but committed to giving him the rest of this World Test Championship cycle to see if he can make the spot his own. "I'm going to give him a good run," Conrad said, "I'd be surprised if we didn't back him throughout the rest of the cycle. I'm pretty confident Tristan is going to come good."

South Africa play eight more Tests in this cycle - two in the West Indies, two in Bangladesh and two at home against each of Sri Lanka and Pakistan - which will give Stubbs a variety of oppositions and conditions to adjust to. He has received no special instructions or expectations from Conrad other than to express himself in the way he feels most comfortable and believes that the results will come. "We do who we are," Conrad said. "It's become quite a cliche now being the best version of yourself, but"

But that's the mantra Conrad is adopting, albeit not in catch phrases. "Whatever that identity is, you couple that with the conditions that you're confronting and then marry that with what the skills the opposition bring, but ultimately, you still operate with your own identity in mind. That's the only messaging I've given Tristan and the rest of the batters."