Best test match number 3 since 1970?

[Flem274*]

Williamson hasn't really played enough. Also quite a big HTB compared to a lot of the others on that list.

this man knows how to catch a howsie

 

[Days of Grace]

https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/e...0;spanval1=span;template=results;type=batting

It’s between Viv and Sangakkara. You’d have to give it to Viv though for the way he dominated the opposition bowlers and dictated the game at no.3.

 

[stephen]

Ponting very undersold here. Wouldn't take Sangakkara over him at all, unless it was to keep. Was the best batsman in an era of great batsmen for Australia. His two closest contemporaries preferred other positions in the batting order.

Unless we're playing in India. Then I'd take someone else.

 

[Burgey]

The answer is, perhaps unsurprisingly, Steve Smith.

 

[Pup Clarke]

In terms of output Sangakkara, but for aesthetics and output Ponting. God he was awesome to watch

 

[h_hurricane]

Viv pretty clearly for me. No other no.3 batsman since 1970 came in with the intent of blasting the ball from the word go and yet averaged 61. Did so over a 10 year period as well. That is ****ing ridiculous.

 

[h_hurricane]

Another impressive thing about Viv at no.3 was his away average. Almost 66 !

Averages 55 in Aus, 93 in Eng, 74 in Pakistan. Only place which he fared poorly was India which was a solitary series in 1983 when he averaged 19.

At home he averaged 56.

That is a great balanced record.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Viv. Out of others I’d be happier with Greg Chappell than a few mentioned in the list. I’m sure stats guru will show he was better at 4. But had he been at 3 his whole career I don’t think his overall record would be much different.

 

[England First]

I can’t believe the lack of Dravid love on this forum.

 

[Prince EWS]

I can’t believe the lack of Dravid love on this forum.

Eh, people thinking others were slightly better doesn't really line up with a lack of love.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Yeah he's up against Sanga, Lara, Ponting, Viv, who are all not massively but significantly better than him.

 

[mr_mister]

Fun fact: Viv played less than a third of his test innings at 3

 

[trundler]

Ponting getting short-changed here imo. The perfect #3 if you ask me. Had originally voted for him but couldn't see YK go vote-less since Amla, KW and Dravid didn't.

 

[England First]

Fun fact: Viv played less than a third of his test innings at 3

The poll says people don’t care.

 

[Coronis]

Fun fact: Viv played less than a third of his test innings at 3

Williamson has actually almost doubled Viv's runs at 3.

 

[Red]

It’s Viv

 

[England First]

I’ll go for this
1. Dravid
2. Ponting
3. Williamson
4. Richards
5. Lara
6. Sangakkara
7. Younis
8. Amla

all amazing

 

[the big bambino]

That’s where viv Richards battered in his prime though isn’t it? And also it’s debatable that it was where prime lara battered also. So I had to include both.

Unintended yet appropriate.

 

[Migara]

 

[Migara]

Ponting very undersold here. Wouldn't take Sangakkara over him at all, unless it was to keep. Was the best batsman in an era of great batsmen for Australia. His two closest contemporaries preferred other positions in the batting order.

Unless we're playing in India. Then I'd take someone else.

Without gloves Sanga averages 69 at #3. Then there is no comparison with anyone at all.