Is Marnus the best first drop since Ponting?

I think he probably will be our next long term number three. And I'm hoping that he will be able to take this form and just keep getting better. But at this stage of his career when he's never even scored a test century, it's a bit early to be making calls like "best number 3 since Ponting". Technically Smith is probably the best number 3 since Ponting as he's played 29 innings at number 3 for an average of 67. But the preference is for him to bat at 4, (where he averages 81!)

Classic Lancey.

Oh boy. Just stop this now. I really hope he doesn't read this. He could be two tests away from going full Renshaw.

He’s done well in England so far. But you are talking about a player who hasn’t yet scored a test hundred. So I think it’s a bit early to make calls like that.

What you say is generally true, and like you say, he may end up being the exception. Michael Vaughan had a pretty modest record before being selected for England. Yet many would agree that in the early 2000s, he was one of the premier batsmen in world cricket.

Labuschagne should be given the chance to establish himself at No 3 during the upcoming Australian Summer. I also think that he should keep working on his leg spin bowling because also with his excellent fielding he can become an excellent all round cricketer for Australia. We keep talking that on flat wickets we need a fifth bowling option, I agree but why does it always have to be someone like Mitch Marsh to bowl a few overs of medium pace. A leg spinner like Marnus adds great variety and is always a chance of taking a wicket. Whom knows if Paine had not decided to bring him on late in the last day of the last test to get that vital wicket, England mat have have hung on for a draw as we were struggling to get them out at that stage. Also if he can bowl say 10 overs per innings it also gives Nathan Lyon a rest. This summer also we should alsobe introducing Will Pucovski into the batting line up at NO 5 or 6 and he may be a future N0 3. He does bat there now for Victoria in the shield. He averages nearly 50 and when he gets over 100, he has shown that he can make big scores like the 243 that he made against WA in which they had Jye Richardson in their attack. Perfect way to strat his test career in Australia coming into bat after Steve Smith. Top 6 for me for the future of Australian test team is Marnus, Smith , Pucovski, Kurtis Patterson or Travis Head. That should start this summer.

I hope you’re right. The fact is averages In Sheffield Shield are a fairly good predictor of success at Test level. 42 Shield games over 5 seasons is actually a very substantial chunk of experience. As I said, there are ZERO guys over the last 100 years who have “found their feet” at Test level after such a modest start to Shield cricket. In part, because no one ever was considered in the past with such a poor record. Which is not to say he won’t succeed, just that from a purely statistical point it looks unlikely. On the other hand, looking at how he is going now, there is room for optimism that he will be the exception that proves the rule.

Just a fraction early to call. I'm gunna say no. Still, any list that has Rob Quiney ahead of Michael Clarke is a great list. This list also shows how insane selectors are.

Those stats make interesting reading. Especially Watson’s and Hughes’ efforts. Maybe that’s where Shane should’ve been picked instead of opening and if Hughes was still around, he’d probably be an exceptional number 3. I hope Lab can backup his ashes efforts in the summer tests

I agree with what you say, Paul. He needs to convert these good starts into centuries. Maybe he will get this chance at The Oval, which is considered to be a good batting wicket.

Probably the reason why a young Ponting didn't start at #3 was because Australia already had a seasoned player in David Boon filling that position. Australia doesn't have that luxury right now. I'm sure that had Ponting emerged now, he would have walked into the #3 spot.

I wouldn't read too much into his Shield record. He might just be one of those guys who needed time to find his feet at first class level. The thing that matters is that he's able to get runs in difficult circumstances, not just be a fair-weather batsman. The other day, someone pointed out that he's gone from 4 first class centuries to 9 in the space of four months, largely due to his stint at Glamorgan. So something must have obviously clicked in that time. Perhaps the realisation he belongs at this level, as well as better knowledge of his game.

hi Patrick, thanks for writing this piece. I had no idea there was such a gap at number 3 between Ponting's greatness and the next best after Smith. I guess it shows just how tough this spot can be to make runs. It's way too early to make an sort of claims on Labuschagne, IMO. He had a very ordinary run at the end of the last Australian summer, but has taken his chances in this series extremely well. There are two things I'd like to see Labuschagne do. The first is to make a big score without the need to rely on too much luck. The odd play and miss is fair enough, but making a decent score without being dropped would be nice. I'd also like to see him convert one of his next few innings into a century; ditto for Head, by the way. If Labuschagne is the real deal as you suggest, he should be able to do both of these things, IMO.