For all the clangour that followed Shane Warne’s retirement, another bedrock of Australian cricket is proving just as difficult to replace.
First drop is the most important position in any batting order.
The majority of good Test sides have a great No.3 – over the past 80 years Australia were blessed with the likes of Don Bradman, Neil Harvey, Ian Chappell and Ricky Ponting.
Following Ponting’s demotion to No.4 in 2011, the coveted position has been a revolving door due to injury, form and batting-order reshuffles.
It’s a trend that is expected to continue next month, with Glenn Maxwell failing to fire in the recent Test loss to Pakistan.
Some were given the post reluctantly, some claimed it confidently and some were stop-gap measures in a single innings.
None of the 11 have come close to emulating the success of Ponting.
Since Ponting’s towering 150 in the opening Test of the 2009 Ashes series, Australia’s No.3 batsmen have produced 3365 runs and only four centuries from 60 Tests.
To put that in perspective, the previous 60 Tests netted 5787 runs and 20 centuries from No.3 as Ponting punished sides around the world.
This time last year, national cricket selectors agreed on one hugely important question regarding the opening Test of the Ashes.
Does Mitchell Johnson warrant a recall?
Leading up to December 4, when a four-Test series against India starts in Brisbane, they must reach closure on who is the team’s long-term No.3.
“Fortunately I’m not a selector,” declared Michael Clarke on Wednesday, when asked about the No.3 spot upon arrival in Sydney after his side’s woeful 2-0 Test series loss in the UAE.
“I’m not going there.”
Shane Watson, who has scored the side’s only two centuries at No.3 in the post-Ponting era, is set to return for the Gabba Test and performed the duties last summer.
Alex Doolan, dropped for Maxwell, is yet to play a Test on home soil and selectors may want to afford him that opportunity instead of casting judgment on a handful of starts in four Tests.
Clarke suggested last week the prospect of Steve Smith moving up to first drop was “a fantasy right now … he’s just just starting his Test career”.
Phillip Hughes and Shaun Marsh headline the other contenders.
In the opening round of the Sheffield Shield season, George Bailey came in at first drop for Tasmania and scored 15 and 11 while South Australia’s Callum Ferguson posted an unbeaten century at No.3.
twodogs
Guest
Warner has become the teams best batsman therefore it stands to reason he should be at three. Open with Watson/Hughes. Rogers' time looks to be up.
Maroon Grown Hero
Guest
Khawaja would have scored a triple @ Adelaide on that deck. He's injured but when back should be the man
The Bush
Roar Guru
As we're no longer using the number 6 role to bring batsmen through, as it appears to be an all-rounder only spot, we need to suck it up and put in a long term prospect at first drop and back them and I am talking up to 20 tests to find their feet, considering the tough nature of the position.
jameswm
Guest
That's because Hughes keeps going back to Shield cricket and scoring a mountain of runs.
Lewis Stewart
Roar Rookie
Give Dools another go.
Craig Watson
Guest
Hughes has worn the 'baggy green' and failed so often. They give some blokes only three test before the boots comes, Hughes has had more encores than Nellie Melba. Doolan deserves another chance. Watson is the incumbent.For a long term solution to the coveted role, selectors should look at three candidates: Joe Burns, Uzman Kawaja and Callum Ferguson. All three, batting at first drop, had good shield seasons in 2013/14. Burns 563 at 47 (1century), Kawaja 551 at 50 (1 century), Ferguson 565 at 56 (1 century). All three have started the new season with a bang in both short format and FC cricket. Of the three Ferguson is the only one to score a shield century. Burns came close with 98.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Spot on re apparent protection for Hughes. That's nuts.
Axle an the Guru
Guest
Hughes has had plenty of faith shown, he has had a two runs of 9and 10 tests respectively so I would make him wait for Rogers to retire. It concerns me with Hughes that the selectors want to protect him from certain types of bowling. It makes me wonder if he is up to test cricket,but I would give him one more shot when the time comes. I think we need to get back to the more traditional test side instead of these all rounder type ideas. It's time to move past Watson,Bailey & Furguson are not up to test level,S.Marsh may be worth another go but not at First Drop,Smith is definitely worth a go but I feel he will be more value at 4 when Clarke is finished. Khawaja should get first shot in the first test against India and given the same opportunities as what has been given to Hughes in the past. Khawaja showed promise when he replaced Ponting for those tests a couple years ago. He'd be my pick .
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Watto for sure for the present. Worth recalling that I Chappell, Boon, Langer, S Waugh, Hayden, Ponting, all struggled for long periods before finding their feet. The main theme was that the selectors ( and captains perhaps ) maintained their faith in them. It's past time that Hughes and Khawaja were brought back and shown similar faith.
Egg Plunder
Guest
So lets all decide now who will be first drop come the first test I beleive it will be watson as the selectors cannot get enough of his skin Rogers to be dropped for Hughes Who agrees?