Countdown to Test cricket: Who should bat at number 3?

[brmtaylor.com admin]

Number three is probably the most important batting position in Test cricket and the good teams have a fixed number three, ie. Australia with Ponting, Sri Lanka with Sangakarra and India with Dravid.

Typically whoever bats at number three is considered the best batsman in the side, which in our case is Taylor. He also fits the other criteria a number three should fulfil (experienced, skilled, large range of strokes, adept against all types of bowling, proven performer, an automatic selection). However, Taylor has proven to be a very good opener - and while that is only in ODIs it does solve a potential problem in Tests as well.

Has Sibanda done enough to make the Test side, let alone bat at three? He has played a few good First Class innings (I'm thinking Intercontinental Cup) which is something in his favour but he is neither a proven performer against top quality opponents nor an automatic selection. Craig Ervine is in a similar boat, except while he's probably a much more likely selection he doesn't have a lot of experience behind him. Williams was an ideal number three about two years ago, but his ODI form has dropped off since then and he has been so unfortunate with injury it's hard to know whether he has the time to break back into the team before the 1st Test. I wasn't going to include Chibhabha in the poll because if he didn't get a look in for the ODI team it's hard to see him making the Test team, but he is a genuine number three batsman...

That leaves Masakadza and Taibu. Unlike Chibhabha, Masakadza not making the ODI team is irrelevant simply because he is one of the few batsmen in the country who has proven to have what it takes at Test level (even if that century was a decade ago, I don't think anyone would dispute that he is of Test quality). I would think that Masakadza will be an automatic selection in the Test team, and he is probably quite well suited to number three. The only question mark is whether he would be better off opening? Would Taylor and Masakadza form the best opening partnership, or is there another batsman who could free up one of those opening positions? Perhaps the opening batsmen debate can have a topic of its own once this thread has come to a conclusion.

Taibu is classy enough that I'm sure he would perform adequately in any position. Probably nobody would bat an eyelid if he got the gig.

I'm still undecided over the top order I'd like to see. I think there is a lot of merit in: Duffin, Masakadza, Taylor, Taibu as it makes the batting run a bit deeper (ie. I think with those 4, it would be more difficult for Zimbabwe to collapse as there is quite a bit of experience there) but Masakadza, Taylor, Taibu, Ervine is the type of lineup that could hold strong for many years to come and could provide a level of stability in both Tests and eventually ODIs. If you look at our ODI top order from the past couple of years, with the exception of Taylor it's been like a revolving door. A stable and in-form top order could be the answer and for that reason I'd probably lean towards Masakadza and Taylor opening with Taibu at three and Ervine at four.

[eugene]

If healthy and in decent form I think Sean Williams is the best choice. Other than that I think Taibu is the next best option as he is the most experienced test player in the side.

[ZIMDOGGY]

*in before matsi and vusi fanatics take over thread

[ZIMDOGGY]

Interesting that u didn't mention mawoyo?

In all seriousness this is where nick Compton or ballance can play their role should they be persuaded to make the plunge. Vermeylen could have been the man too. Long shot- Sean erv.Or Ewing.

Maybe tinasche ruswa can step up to the plate???

[Zimfanatic69]

Interesting that u didn't mention mawoyo?

In all seriousness this is where nick Compton or ballance can play their role should they be persuaded to make the plunge. Vermeylen could have been the man too. Long shot- Sean erv.Or Ewing.

Maybe tinasche ruswa can step up to the plate???

You forgot Kevin Arnott and Grant Paterson.

[bayhaus]

I would go for vusi especially if Ham and Taylor open and set a good score' vusi can be dangerous. If Ham goes to three I would like to see Tino Mawoyo open. Hope he keeps opening for the A team if he is overlooked.

[Boundary]

Would it a surprise to anyone that I voted Sibanda? Without being "fanatic" about it, let's look at it logically. Coming in at 3 you have twin objectives: don't throw your wicket away and maintain the momentum. Patience and skill, mental toughness, clarity of thought, calm under pressure, confident. Taylor fits the bill but him and Masakadza are our opening pair. Vusi becomes next, otherwise where else can he bat? If he's in the side, he can't bat any lower. So the question is, does he get in? We're playing the first Test in August, the Logan Cup is just winding down and so there's no time to experiment. Guys like Ballance, Compton etc. aren't available right now and they can't be in the plans right now. Vusi is experienced, has the temperament and has the technique, not to mention he's available, so the risk is minimal. Taylor, Masakadza, Sibanda, Taibu, Ervine is a line-up that chooses itself.

[Robin]

Has to Masakadza, it's where he has played all his recent 1st Class Cricket.

1. Taylor
2. Mawayo/Duffin/Ballance
3. Masakadza
4. Sibanda
5. Taibu
6. C.Ervine/Williams
7. Chigumbura

It will be interesting what happens with Gary Ballance if by the middle of the English Summer he hasn't forced his way into the Yorkshire team

[Zimfanatic69]

Has to Masakadza, it's where he has played all his recent 1st Class Cricket.

1. Taylor
2. Mawayo/Duffin/Ballance
3. Masakadza
4. Sibanda
5. Taibu
6. C.Ervine/Williams
7. Chigumbura

It will be interesting what happens with Gary Ballance if by the middle of the English Summer he hasn't forced his way into the Yorkshire team

If Ballance cannot make a poor side like Yorkshire then he is hardly likely to bolster our national side.

I would have Masakada at 2, Taibu at 3 and Matsi at 4 then 5 Ervine, 6 Williams, 7 Chigs, 8 Cremer, 9 Shingi, 10, Mpofu and 11 Price.

[Robin]

If Ballance cannot make a poor side like Yorkshire then he is hardly likely to bolster our national side.

????

Yorkshire's top 3 in the County chapionship were as follows:- A.Lyth 1509 runs at 52, A.Gale 876 @ 46 & J.Rudolph 1375 at 52.

It is interesting though that in your team you select a player who after over 100 first class games (and not in the 1st divison of the county championship) averages 30 and in the logan cup this season only averaged 28.

But you contend Ballance who averaged 51,is a specialist in the top 3 and a left hander would not improve the national team because he couldn't displace the above named trio?

It would be a shame if this thread decends into the normal name calling over players ability and that mustn't happen, but there has to be some basis, intelect or rationale in a put down, unless it is of course, a troll.