South Africa appear to be nearing a decision on their No 3 batsman for the opening cricket Test against Australia, with batting coach Ashwell Prince revealing that they have a clear idea of who they want in the crucial position. The No 3 spot has been one of the more intriguing selection questions ahead of Friday’s first Test at Kingsmead. Several candidates are in contention, including David Bedingham, Wiaan Mulder, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, and the uncapped Marques Ackerman.
While Prince stopped short of naming the player who has emerged as the frontrunner, he indicated that the selection panel was much closer to a decision than the competition for the position might suggest. “The names that we mentioned [in previous conversations] are all options. We have a very good idea on who’s the one there,” Prince said. The priority is finding a batsman capable of bringing greater stability to a position that has not always had a settled occupant.
Statistics from ESPN Cricinfo show Rickelton leading SA's frontline Test group with a 37.38 average, with Bedingham (36.00) and Mulder (35.80) right on his heels. Stubbs fields a solid 31.63 average, but Ackerman is a looming threat with a first-class mark of 48.66. These statistics highlight the strong competition for the No 3 spot.
The selection debate does not end at No 3, with the Proteas also weighing up how best to balance their bowling attack against Australia. Prince said SA were not wedded to one particular combination and could adjust their plans depending on the Kingsmead surface. The presence of bowling allrounders such as Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Senuran Muthusamy, and Mulder gives SA further flexibility.
Keshav Maharaj’s recent success against Australia in the ODI series also adds another dimension to the selection equation, though Prince indicated the final call would be heavily influenced by the conditions. The team is assessing the pitch to decide between a seam-heavy attack and deploying bowling allrounders alongside Maharaj.
Prince warned against underestimating the mentality that has long been associated with Australian cricket simply because of the emergence of a few new faces. “Australian cricket is more than just 11 players going on the field,” he said. “There’s a mentality to it, there’s an approach to how they play the game. We are obviously aware of what they bring, what they have, and equally we are prepared for that.”
Ackerman’s emergence is also reflective of the depth SA has available, with Prince saying there is a growing appetite among domestic players to break into a Test side that has enjoyed significant recent success. “There’s an appetite, not just for him, for a lot of players within our domestic structure,” he said. This depth provides SA with a strong foundation for future success.
Key points
- South Africa's batting coach Ashwell Prince says they have a 'very good idea' of who will bat at No 3 against Australia at Kingsmead.
- Several candidates are in contention for the No 3 spot, including David Bedingham, Wiaan Mulder, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, and Marques Ackerman.
- The selection panel is also considering how to balance their bowling attack against Australia, with various combinations possible depending on the Kingsmead surface.
