Who should be the number 3 batsman?

[sifter132]

Your #3 has to be able to play between overs 5-25 (mainly), so he needs to be a guy who can steady the innings after a quick wicket, handle a fired up opening attack and then slowly improve the scoring rate. Not all batsmen can do this, but it doesn't have to be your best guy that does it.

If you ever listen to Ian Chappell, he constantly bangs on about how your best player should come in at #3 (probably because he was a #3). He seems to suggest your best guy should be out there as long as possible. I know he really hates it when a makeshift guy comes in at #3 like Pathan or Razzaq, he wants the gun guy at #3 and has been critical of guys like Lara, Kallis, KP and Inzamam for not batting at #3. My counter argument is why should you best guy be out there too early when there is greater danger of dismissal? Give him some protection and he might score a lot more runs.

I think your best guy should bat at #4. He will probably come in after 10-20 overs (hopefully). He still has time to make 100 and he has the benefit of facing lesser bowlers with a ball that's lost its swing and shine. The other thing to consider here is if your best player is better against pace or spin. If it's pace you might consider him at #3 instead. Eg. Ponting and Clarke for Australia. Ponting plays spin well, but only once he's settled a bit. While Clarke is great against spin with his quick feet (why they had him opening for a bit is a mystery to me - he works the middle overs really well)

 

[Cricketman]

Gautam Ghambir in ODI's has been awesome for India. Uthappa too is a good prospect but is far too careless at times.

In tests, of course, we have Dravid. Although he has the tendency to bog himself down (which has only started after the England tour) he is probably the best number three batsman in the world. He's rock solid, puts a price on his wicket, and scores runs (believe it or not!)
VVS Laxman is probably the third best number three in the game (Behind Dravid/Ponting and Ponting/Dravid ), but unfortunately plays in the same team as the best/second best. His strokes are awesome, he's good against both spin and pace bowling.

A replacement for the future for the longest version of the game for India comes in the form of Subramanium Badrinath. Not only has he succeeded in the domestic circle in India, he's a fighter and has a great cricketing mind. Future captain in my opinion, and will be at the helm by the time 2011 comes along.

 

[Sureshot]

KP's technique can't handle the new ball, he should be at 5. Mustards in the team because he was the highest averaging batsmen in list a cricket last year so he's in because he's performed well. He's our only keeper for ages to actually make a good score, well the only one since Stewart.

KPs technique can handle the new ball. However different it may be to an orthodox technique, it's still a damn solid and good one.

 

[vaibhav mehta]

By the Way Except from the M Hussey,KP is the only player Who has average of 50 in both form of Cricket.And trust me that needs lots of Technique.

 

[jordox]

I will have Sehwag in ODIs

No, that would leave too much of a risk of them being 1/50 then 2/50. Sehwag is at the top of the order as a pinch hitter, if he fails, who cares, if he performs, sweet. A number 3 should be able to buckle down if needed.

Really, Ponting is the perfect 3.

 

[SaiSrini]

I will have Sehwag in ODIs and Dravid in Test for India. After Dravid retires doesnt matter anyone at 3 will be gone in 5 seconds.

Gambhir is settling into the one down position in ODI's. In test matches, Dravid should continue and after he retires, Laxman should do it until he retires. By then, we might have some one like Badrinath or Pujara who can take that spot.

 

[SciD]

Gambhir is settling into the one down position in ODI's. In test matches, Dravid should continue and after he retires, Laxman should do it until he retires. By then, we might have some one like Badrinath or Pujara who can take that spot.

Laxman will retire before Dravid does. Badri is already too old for selection. It will be miracle if he makes the team. Rohit Sharma as good technique to be Number 3 test bat but he needs to be choosy about shot selection. If we had dependable openors we could have afford a dashing number 3 but sadly thats not case.

Gambhir does not have great technique to be good test player otherwise he would have solved many problems there. He can play number 3 in ODIs consistently but I would rather see him bat as openor and get someone else at 3. Uthappa or Sehwag can open in sub continent but in Australia they will fail.

 

[Sureshot]

By the Way Except from the M Hussey,KP is the only player Who has average of 50 in both form of Cricket.And trust me that needs lots of Technique.

His average is below 50 in ODIs.

 

[angryangy]

By the Way Except from the M Hussey,KP is the only player Who has average of 50 in both form of Cricket.And trust me that needs lots of Technique.

It's 48 now, but still not many players average 45 or better. Mind you, Dhoni averages about 45 and what do you do with him? Stuff him down at six?

 

[SciD]

By remaining not out one can boost his average. nothing phenomenal. Look at playes class while deciding. In most peoples eyes Sanga is best players around but look at his averages. Beavn had stupid average in ODis but that did not mean he would bat at 3. He was specialist down order.

 

[vaibhav mehta]

His average is below 50 in ODIs.

His average was above 50 before NZ vs Eng series..It was not best of the series for him..And 48 is not less sir..

It's 48 now, but still not many players average 45 or better. Mind you, Dhoni averages about 45 and what do you do with him? Stuff him down at six?

Dhoni well...its just good time for him..And i told about both form of the game..
KP has reached his 1000 runs in around 10 test matches,2000 in around 20 test Matches and 3000 around 32 test matches...
Dhoni well we saw that against Ind Vs Aus test series.I can accept Dhoni is well in ODI as Kp but In Tests Kp is 10000 times more better than Dhoni as far as technique is concerned..

 

[ivanvdm15]

South Africa should go with Kallis at three i still don't know why they put Amla in at 3 Kallis is way better suited for 3 and knows the resposibilities of batting at 3.

 

[Sureshot]

Speaking of KP...

http://stats.cricinfo.com/statsguru/engine/player/19296.html?class=1;template=results;type=batting

I'm looking at that and I'm thinking just how consistent he is, against the 5 Test teams he's played against (not yet to play South Africa, New Zealand and Bangladesh) his lowest average is 42 (vs Pakistan) and the highest is 66 (vs WIndies). Batting at 4 or 5 doesn't change his average much, slightly better at 4 than 5. Consistency is always a good marker of someone's ability imo.

 

[afridi118]

younis khan of pakistan have sticked around at 3 for long time and has done well.

 

[Cricketman]

It's 48 now, but still not many players average 45 or better. Mind you, Dhoni averages about 45 and what do you do with him? Stuff him down at six?

Yes, even though i'm no fan of Dhoni I always felt that he batted way too far down the order. Look at his averages for three and four!

3rd position  	2005-2007  	11  	11  	2  	641  	183*  	[COLOR="Red"]71.22[/COLOR]  	662  	96.82 	2  	2  	1  	60  	15  	view innings
4th position 	2005-2007 	9 	9 	3 	482 	80 	[COLOR="Red"]80.33 	[/COLOR]426 	113.14 	0 	6 	0 	47 	16

Compared to:

5th position  	2006-2008  	10  	10  	1  	240  	49  	[COLOR="Red"]26.66 [/COLOR] 	249  	96.38  	0  	0  	1  	20  	7  	view innings
6th position 	2005-2008 	35 	35 	9 	1097 	88* 	[COLOR="Red"]42.19[/COLOR] 	1327 	82.66 	0 	7 	0 	69 	24 	view innings
7th position 	2004-2008 	23 	23 	9 	525 	139* 	[COLOR="Red"]37.50[/COLOR] 	557 	94.25 	1 	3 	3 	42 	14