The Best at No. 6

[NZTailender]

This thread is motivated by something I read in the Ashes forum where one of the reasons why Steve Smith was chosen at 6 was 'he is the best number 6 in the country'. I found this interesting, mostly because I think it implied there are better batsmen in the country but they didn't have confidence that they'd perform batting down at 6.

So, it raised a couple of questions in my mind.
First is simple: who is the best number 6 batsmen in world cricket currently?
Second: specifically, who are the best number 6 batsmen in each country?
Then a slew : what is the role of a number six? Is it purely batting? Should number 6 be usually reserved for an all-rounder? What about keepers? Should it be a place for young batsmen to break themselves in to Test cricket? Or should there be an old hand guiding a ship?

A couple of personal thoughts. Number 6 to me seems like a really hard position to bat in for a specialist. On one hand it could be a piece of cake if the top 5 do the job of making a substantial score to which you can simply build on and perhaps really dig the knife in. On the other, if there's been a collapse you have to consolidate with the fact that you're very close to the tail and could potentially lose the match. You'd have to be sensibly but also counter attack. Of the top 6 positions, is it the hardest? To me it's second to opening on the difficulty stakes.

And if you really want to go there, who is the best number 6 ever?



Also the names I've chosen in the poll are those who have batted multiple matches and innings in the last twelve months, so there are some dropped players there because I thought it'd be simpler to include them.

 

[NZTailender]

Oops, missed Pakistan's players. Could a mod add Asad Shafiq and Umar Akmal?

 

[GIMH]

Ian Bell, I reckon

 

[King Pietersen]

Ian Bell. 1289 runs at 53.70 with 5 centuries at 6 for Bell. Has probably played his last Test at 6 for a while, with the replacement for Collingwood likely coming in at 6, with Bell slotting up to 5. Easily the best in the world ATM though, if you look at the stats, with a minimum of 20 Test innings at 6, Bell has the 4th highest average of all-time for a number 6, behind only Shiv Chanderpaul, Saleem Malik and Imran Khan.

Best of all-time? Probably between 2 Australian's Steve Waugh and Allan Border, though you could make a pretty good case for Sir Garfield Sobers and Shiv Chanderpaul.

 

[Zinzan]

Ian Bell despite the fact he shouldn't be batting at 6

 

[Howe_zat]

#6 is a similar position to the old #5 specialists.

In the same way that it used to be you started the tail at #7 - a position for bowling all-rounders or a shaky keeper - now you start it at #8, so you have to have your 'keeper be an agressive batsman and your #6 be the combined rescuer, tail - shepherder and conter-attacker you described.

So it may be true that the greatest #5s of old - Lloyd, Border and the rest - would be the greatest no.6s of today.

It's also one of the reasons that I don't think new batsmen should be bled at 6, any position should be treated as a specialists' role.

 

[morgieb]

Right now it's pretty easily Ian Bell, imo.

 

[Cevno]

V.V.S Laxman?

Though has moved up to 5 these days.

 

[NZTailender]

V.V.S Laxman?

Though has moved up to 5 these days.

In the past 12 months he's only played there when a nightwatchman was used. But if we're talking all time he's not a bad shout, especially for match saving knocks.

 

[Spark]

easily the best number #6 right now but he won't be holding onto his mantle for long (by default)

 

[Cevno]

In the past 12 months he's only played there when a nightwatchman was used. But if we're talking all time he's not a bad shout, especially for match saving knocks.

Was talking more all time.

Here is the list sorted by averages by the way -

Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[Athlai]

Shakib is decent if you take into account that he bowls quite well but on batting alone you have to say Bell by a fair way. Interesting to note that all the best bats listed here will be probably playing up the order in the next year or so.

 

[Hit Wicket]

Since Collingwood has retired, I would go for Kane Williamson. If we are talking over the last 8-10 years, I don't think there should even be a poll because Laxman has undoubtedly been the best.

 

[M0rphin3]

Shakib is decent if you take into account that he bowls quite well but on batting alone you have to say Bell by a fair way. Interesting to note that all the best bats listed here will be probably playing up the order in the next year or so.

AWTA, Bell's too good for that position IMO.

 

[Jono]

Soon to be:

 

[Cokolo]

From what I have seen of him so early into his career Kane Williamson is doing well to make the no.6 position his own however I think he is likely to be moved up later into his career.

Ian Bell has obviously done well with it as seen in the ashes series but did he nopt used to be at 3 for a while?

 

[Noble One]

Bell wins in a no-contest.

It's a funny situation, as the number 6 position is generally a spot for either the weak link in the order (North and Prince) or the youngster prior to moving up the order (Pujara, Williamson and Matthews). Bell has benefited from playing in a side that has a well defined batting order hence he has been glued to the number 6 role. There is almost no doubt that he would benefit more by moving up the order, which isn't something you could say about his competition. I presume that Bell will move to 5, and Morgan will bat 6 in the future, and this evens up the competition.

 

[Blaze 18]

Ian Bell

 

[Walter]

Bell now, clearly.

Prince may be finished, so Duminy will be back.