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ICF World XI : Best N0.3 in test cricket (Post 1960)


Best N0.3 in test cricket (Post 1960)  

21 members have voted

  1. 1. Best No.3 for World XI

    • Viv Richards (WI)
    • KC Sangakkara (SL)
      0
    • RT Ponting (AUS)
    • HM Amla (SA)
      0
    • R Dravid (ICC/INDIA)


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Posted

As part of the series for the world XI ,this poll is for the Best no.3 in test history . As i mentioned in the earlier thread ,as a general principle I have only considered cricketers who have at least played a test after 1960.So though Bradman is the overwhelming favourite for the no.3 spot for most ,i havent considered him.

 

As for the position itself ,arguably  the most important position of the batting order . Openers may get out cheap, then the no 3 has to ensure that there is no further damage or if openers do well,  has the onus to carry that momentum through.To sum it up ,it is arguably the most specialized batting position in cricket.Hence I have considered only the records of the batsman at no.3

 

Considering all that have picked the 5 best candidates for the poll.Pick the best no.3 you consider the best . For the sake of repeating these arent their overall stats but their stats batting at No.3

 

No3.png

 

 

P.S

 

If you havent voted in the openers thread ,hop over and vote in that thread also.

 

Posted (edited)

Did IVAR bat at #3?  I thought he was lower for the most part of his career?  He should be a fixture in a world XI, but at #5 or so.

 

I feel like a few names are missing on this list.

Edited by sandeep
Posted (edited)
22 minutes ago, sandeep said:

Did IVAR bat at #3?  I thought he was lower for the most part of his career?  He should be a fixture in a world XI, but at #5 or so.

 

 

Yeah thats the problem with Viv.He didnt bat most of his career at 3 but his best stats are at 3.

 

I usually wouldnt have included him but his record at no.3 even if statistically low no of innings is exceptional ,its hard to leave.I will include him in the middle order list as well.

Another reason was this would mean we can potentially pick Sachin Lara and Viv all three in the XI .

Quote

 

I feel like a few names are missing on this list.

 

I have left out a few like Ian Chappel and Younis Khan simply because I dont think they really belong to the ATG level despite their records.Kallis I have left out because he will be part of the all rounder list.

 

 

Edited by BeautifulGame
Posted
6 minutes ago, maniac said:

Ponting

Ponting for me as well.As inundating Viv's record is,he has played too few games at no.3 to be considered a great No.3

 

Ponting is a class above the rest of them.Dravid Alma and Sanga are all great players but none had the aura of Ponting nor had the ability to dominate attacks like him.

Posted
1 minute ago, BeautifulGame said:

Yeah thats the problem with Viv.He didnt bat most of his career at 3 but his best stats are at 3.

 

I usually wouldnt have included him but his record at no.3 even if statistically low no of innings is exceptional ,its hard to leave.I will include him in the middle order list as well.

Another reason was this would mean we can potentially pick Sachin Lara and Viv all three in the XI .

I have left out a few like Ian Chappel and Younis Khan simply because I dont think they part of this ATG despite their records.Kallis I have left out because he will be part of the all rounder list.

 

 

Has to be Ponting....Even though his average in India is underwhelming, the quality of attacks he played against are much superior to what Viv has played.....Even India had their best ever bowling attack in Ponting's time....Zimbabwe was at their strongest...Srilanka had their best bowling attack....England's resurgence was starting towards the later half of his career. Only WI were in decline but he did play in the Walsh-Ambrose era albeit only at the start.

Posted
Dravid for me.

His average outside SC is 52 while Ponting's average in SC is 34.

It's only in India Ponting struggled .

He averaged 48 in SriLanka , 100+ in Pakistan (97 in UAE ) and 96 in Bangladesh.

His overall average in Asia is 42.

Posted
It's only in India Ponting struggled .

He averaged 48 in SriLanka , 100+ in Pakistan (97 in UAE ) and 96 in Bangladesh.

His overall average in Asia is 42.

I excluded Bangladesh and combined avg in India, SL, Pak is 34.

Even if you take 42 as overall, Dravid's combined avg in Australia, NZ, SA, WI, England is 52. He has played a lot more matches too.

I also think Ponting enjoyed a better opening pair in front of him. Plus, Dravid also sorts out first slip.

Posted
3 minutes ago, Sidhoni said:

I excluded Bangladesh and combined avg in India, SL, Pak is 34.

Even if you take 42 as overall, Dravid's combined avg in Australia, NZ, SA, WI, England is 52. He has played a lot more matches too.

I also think Ponting enjoyed a better opening pair in front of him. Plus, Dravid also sorts out first slip.

And Ponting is one of the best fielders ever to play the game

Posted

I have to go with Dravid. Ponting is a great choice but wih Tendulkar for me coming at 4 and Viv at 5, I have enough batsmen to follow my no.3 bat, who can dominate the bowlers like Viv amd Tendulkar. It is good to have a batsman like Dravid in my test x1 at three who can calm things down when there is a collapse on the other side. Can't think of anyone other than Dravid, neither Punter and not even Sanga. 

 

Imagine Dravid and Viv batting together for recovery after a mini collapse. 

 

Dravid is my no.3

Posted

I always wonder when people vote for players of a previous era. No matter when you were born,especially if you are Indian the satellite boom in India happened in 91-92 when a lot more matches infact almost every international cricket match was telecast.

 

Yes Viv Richards has a legacy, has the stats to back it up and is talked about by everyone as being the most fearsome batsman of all time.

 

Taking nothing away from Viv but when it comes to Ponting, I have pretty much followed his entire career. He ticks of the stats box obviously and even the attribute of fear factor he brought in. 

 

Ponting from what I have seen did not just have 1 gear...he could smash the attack from ball 1 or play a sedate innings. Viv on the other hand might have played such innings but solely based on reputation he seems to be only a dasher.

 

I will always be biased towards Ponting. 

 

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