The Death of No 3s in Test Cricket

[sage]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2025/12/24/englands-ashes-wins-australia-ollie-pope-no-3s/
 

 

In England and beyond, Test-match No 3s are in an age of recession. Overall, they averaged 34.9 in the 2020s, a 8.5 run decline since the 2000s. Test No 3s average less in the 2020s than in any decade since the 1910s.

 

The role long exerted a gravitational, almost mythical, pull. It was the platform for Sir Donald Bradman to amass his preposterous numbers. Ricky Ponting, Ian Chappell, Viv Richards, Brian Lara, Kumar Sangakkara and Rahul Dravid are among Test cricket’s other great custodians of the position.

 

Yet now, its status has reversed: from a position to seek out, it is increasingly viewed as an unwanted burden. Virat Kohli, Steve Smith and Joe Root – three of the “Fab Four” born at the start of the 1990s – all had stints there before moving to the safer climes of No 4. When he was promoted to three in the 2023 Ashes, Harry Brook only did the job for a solitary innings before immediately shuffling back to five in the second innings.

 

Moeen Ali was elevated then, making the leap from seven to three mid-match, and then remaining at first wicket down for the rest of the series. The move was an example of one of Test cricket’s more curious trends: the rise of the “false three”.

Rather than it being the preserve of batting royalty, non-specialists are increasingly used in the position. Such players, normally all-rounders, are deployed to artificially lengthen the batting order and shield the middle order from the new ball. If all players struggle at three, such logic goes, then a side’s best batsman should be protected from the berth. Wiaan Mulder is the standard-bearer for the false three: he averages 22.8 in 21 World Test Championship matches, yet is South Africa’s incumbent No 3.

 

The world over, a lethal cocktail has sent No 3s’ averages south. There are an array of brilliant fast bowlers in the Test game, adept at exploiting new-ball assistance. Especially in Australia, pitches have become spicier with the new ball.

 

Changes to the balls themselves have also made the position increasingly undesirable. During the 2021-22 Australian home summer, a new Kookaburra ball was introduced. The ball has a more prominent seam than previous versions, and an extra layer of lacquer. The upshot has been an increase in both swing and seam with the new ball, leading to top-order averages plummeting. Even Marnus Labuschagne was dropped earlier this year, after averaging just 24.7 in his previous 16 Tests.

 

[sage]

The data that shows batting No.3 is tougher than ever

Table with 6 columns and 16 rows. (column headers with buttons are sortable)

Decade	Players	Matches	Inns	Runs	Average
1870s	7	3	11	192	17.45 17.45 17.45
1880s	26	29	104	2,143	22.09 22.09 22.09
1890s	30	32	116	3,725	33.86 33.86 33.86
1900s	30	41	153	4,726	31.93 31.93 31.93
1910s	29	29	100	3,279	33.80 33.80 33.80
1920s	48	51	174	7,038	43.71 43.71 43.71
1930s	72	89	307	14,453	51.25 51.25 51.25
1940s	39	45	156	6,233	42.69 42.69 42.69
1950s	100	164	581	20,266	37.04 37.04 37.04
1960s	95	186	669	26,212	41.47 41.47 41.47
1970s	87	198	710	27,116	40.17 40.17 40.17
1980s	116	266	909	32,177	38.07 38.07 38.07
1990s	130	347	1,217	40,857	35.99 35.99 35.99
2000s	138	464	1,649	66,861	43.41 43.41 43.41
2010s	152	433	1,586	59,690	39.81 39.81 39.81
2020s	113	237	877	29,090	34.96 34.96 34.96

[kosingh]

Just now, sage said:

The data that shows batting No.3 is tougher than ever

Table with 6 columns and 16 rows. (column headers with buttons are sortable)

Decade	Players	Matches	Inns	Runs	Average
1870s	7	3	11	192	17.45 17.45 17.45
1880s	26	29	104	2,143	22.09 22.09 22.09
1890s	30	32	116	3,725	33.86 33.86 33.86
1900s	30	41	153	4,726	31.93 31.93 31.93
1910s	29	29	100	3,279	33.80 33.80 33.80
1920s	48	51	174	7,038	43.71 43.71 43.71
1930s	72	89	307	14,453	51.25 51.25 51.25
1940s	39	45	156	6,233	42.69 42.69 42.69
1950s	100	164	581	20,266	37.04 37.04 37.04
1960s	95	186	669	26,212	41.47 41.47 41.47
1970s	87	198	710	27,116	40.17 40.17 40.17
1980s	116	266	909	32,177	38.07 38.07 38.07
1990s	130	347	1,217	40,857	35.99 35.99 35.99
2000s	138	464	1,649	66,861	43.41 43.41 43.41
2010s	152	433	1,586	59,690	39.81 39.81 39.81
2020s	113	237	877	29,090	34.96 34.96 34.96

 

Haven't averages at most specialist batting positions declined from 2000s to 2010, and then 2010 to 2020s?  

[vvvslaxman]

 

 

I have removed Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Ireland from this. Just the other countries.

Edited December 26, 2025 by vvvslaxman

[Talkie]

Batting today is tougher than in 90s. Good revelation. 

[Lord]

13 hours ago, Talkie said:

Batting today is tougher than in 90s. Good revelation. 

 

That might also due to faulty techniques due to T20s

[vvvslaxman]

2 minutes ago, Lord said:

 

That might also due to faulty techniques due to T20s

Harmison is saying exactly the same thing on talksport. I am watching it right now

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdS6Wd3Q93Q

 

 

[G_B_]

We need to see if the top 5 averages have dipped. Then its a t20 impact+ pitches and needing a result.

 

I also note that best batters now prefer to come at 4 to 5 to face a blunted new ball.

[kosingh]

3 hours ago, G_B_ said:

We need to see if the top 5 averages have dipped. Then its a t20 impact+ pitches and needing a result.

 

I also note that best batters now prefer to come at 4 to 5 to face a blunted new ball.

 

Exactly. Pretty sure to total team scores have reduced in that period. If number 3 averages have fallen even more than other positions, only then would these stats be meaningful...

[vvvslaxman]

Amla, Williamson, Sanga, Pujara later Labu are the main no.3s in the last 15 years

 

[diga]

5 hours ago, Lord said:

 

That might also due to faulty techniques due to T20s

Probably a few transition years before every team finds someone suitable for that position... 

[BacktoCricaddict]

The greatest innings ever played by a #3 was by a "false" #3. Circa March 2001.

 

 

[sage]

Now Carse played at #3. Truly over

[Talkie]

36 minutes ago, sage said:

Now Carse played at #3. Truly over

That should be strategy going forward. Send nightwatchmen to face the new ball regularly and give your number 3 better chance to survive.