In cricket, particularly the longest format, the No.3 position is as vital to any team as oxygen is to a
human being.
This position is the linchpin of the batting order both in terms of defense and attack. Defense because when any of the top two falter early, the No. 3 batter needs to shoulder the responsibility with a strong defensive acumen to give a solid base to his team after a shaky beginning.
As for attack, he is also expected to pile up the runs with a measured yet assertive approach to keep the momentum of the innings going especially if the opening batters have laid a strong foundation.
Erstwhile greats, the likes of Rahul Dravid and Ricky Ponting have more than ably demonstrated the roles and responsibilities that this position entails with the former mounting over 13,000 runs at an astounding average of 52 and the latter also scoring runs in equal measure at an average just shy of 52.
This surely is testament to how successfully these stalwarts have coped with the pressures that come batting at this rather pivotal position and their statistics definitely demonstrate how they have more than aptly made this position their own.
When it comes to South African cricket, the Proteas have unearthed some gems of their own with the likes of Jacques Kallis who began his career batting at No.3 in the test whites before sliding a position further to No.4 to give the mantle to another great in Hashim Amla.
The technique that both these Protea enigmas displayed to tackle the bounce and turn have certainly left big boots to fill for the current setup to make this position their own.
With this being said, the responsibility now rests with a certain CapeTown born youngster who has undoubtedly carved an impression in T20I’s called Tristan Stubbs. The imposing right hander has already notched up more than 400 runs in 21 T20I innings at a strike-rate of 127, and coach Shukri Conrad believes he is the man for the job to take South Africa forward at this one-down position.
This brings us to prime subject we are addressing.
Is Tristan Stubbs ready to don this role?
Well, if you are the Protea headman, the answer is yes as Conrad recently mentioned in an interview that this young boy has an imposing aura about him and could take the game by the scruff of the neck as the situation demands.
Perhaps, he is right but the question that is most vital to this position is the technique aspect and we are yet to see Tristan demonstrate this. In domestic cricket Stubbs has played 18 matches and piled up a career best 302 with an impressive average of 50.
While these figures are undoubtedly remarkable, international cricket is a completely different ball game and Tristan would unquestionably need to exhibit performance and intent that is way higher than domestic cricket to show he is the right man for the job.
For me time will be the determining force to see if Stubbs does prove himself at this position and should be given a long rope to harness his ability.
He definitely has the aura and wherewithal as we have seen in the shortest format to become a force to reckon with and perhaps the Caribbean Islands could witness the start of something special for the lad as he carves his niche now in the Test whites.
As the first Test begins in a few hours from now, all eyes will be on Stubbs to repay the faith his coach and perhaps the South African faithful have shown in him.
The inspiration starts here – Go Stubby go!
