Australia's No. 3 conundrum
Greg Baum, writing for the Age, examines the void that Australia need to fill at No. 3 to replace Ricky Ponting
ESPNcricinfo staff
15-Aug-2013
Australia's collapse from a position of strength in the chase at Chester-le-Street has reiterated a major problem facing the team: who after Ricky Ponting at No. 3? Greg Baum, writing for the Age, looks at the bigger picture.
... When Ponting returned to Australia for the birth of his daughter, Shaun Marsh stepped in at first drop for the second Test, and promptly made a debut century. When Ponting rejoined for the third Test, it was down the order a notch. He would never make another run at No. 3. Seemingly, Marsh had opened a door, but it was to an abyss. In two years and 26 Tests since, eight men have appeared at No. 3, collectively averaging a meagre 22. Not one has made a century. But they have made nine ducks, including three in one series for Marsh, and one for Clarke, in his only captain's innings at No. 3.
No. 3 remains a black hole. In this series, it was occupied in the first Test by Ed Cowan, and since by Usman Khawaja. Apart from Khawaja's 54 on the last day at Lord's, in a cause already long lost, the highest score is 24. The ill-starred Khawaja looks to be playing himself out of the team again, though now that the Titanic is fatally holed, there is no point in shuffling the deck chairs again at the Oval. Khawaja, now sans lifejacket, must sink or swim.