Who were the best Number 3 batsmen in Test cricket?

[Harsh Thakor]

My best batsmen at no 3 in test cricket ranked in order of merit.
I request a hearty and analytical response from Pakpassion members to my selection and ranking particularly [MENTION=291]junaid[/MENTION] [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION], [MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] [MENTION=538]bilal[/MENTION] and [MENTION=139595]Ab Fan[/MENTION]



BEST BATSMEN AT NO 3. IN TEST CRICKET

1.Don Bradman
2.Walter Hammond
3.Viv Richards
4.George Headley
5.Ricky Ponting
6.Rahul Dravid
7.Kumar Sangakaara
8.Brian Lara
9.Ken Barrington
10.Rohan Kanhai
11.David Gower
12.Ian Chappell
13.Frank Worrell
14.Alvin Kalicharan
15.Zaheer Abbas
16.Mohinder Amarnath
17.Dilip Vengsarkar
18.Colin Cowdrey
19.Stan Mcabe
20.Ijaz Ahmed


1.Don Bradman's staggering average of 101 at no 3 speaks for itself.,simply placing him in another league.Simply a creature from another planet resembling an invincible army annnexing territory after territory.

2.Walter Hammond averaged above 74 which was remarkable.In another era which excluded Bradman may have well been the best.Took domination in bating to regions of the sublime.

3.Viv Richards averaged over 61 facing the best of paceman and also batted like an emperor in 1977-78 in Wsc supertests.Most dominating bat ever and best in peak after Bradman.


4.George Headley single-handedly carried the mantle of weak team like no batsmen ever before Lara.On wet wickets a better batsmen than Bradman.


5.Ricky Ponting was arguably better against genuine pace than Lara or Tendulkar and was comparable to Viv as an executor of the pull and hook shot and extent of domination of bowling.Scored more runs in wins than anyone ever .

6.Rahul Dravid was the king when a team's back was to the wall.At one stage overshadowed even Tendulkar as a match-winner and in overseas battting average which was amongst the 6 best ever.


7.Kumar Sangakaara was statistically in the Lara class and at no 3 stats wise close the best in terms of run aggregate.

8.Brian Lara mainly played at no 4 but was also a maestro at one down.


9.Rohan Kanhai was close to the most complete batsmen of all.Statistics hardly did justice to Kanhai who averaged 53 at no 3 being a champion in winning or saving a match.No batsmen possessed as much creative genius as Rohan who encompassed regions in batting which even Bradman did not.

10.Ken Barrington averaged over 77 at one down and statistically was on par with Gary Sobers and the bets post-war Englsih batsmen.


11.David Gower was elegance and artistry personified and a master of genuine pace.Posessed the grace of the divine.

12.Ian Chappell was an epitome of grit and determination averaging 50.84 at no 3 facing the best of pace and spin bowlers.In a crisis the best batsmen of his era.


I request a hearty and analytical response from Pakpassion members particularly [MENTION=291]junaid[/MENTION] [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION], [MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] [MENTION=538]bilal[/MENTION] and [MENTION=139595]Ab Fan[/MENTION]


STATISTICS FROM S.RAJESH OF CRICINFO.


Best batsmen at No. 3 (Qual: 2000 runs) Batsman Matches Runs Average 100 50
Don Bradman 40 5078 103.63 20 10
Ken Barrington 27 2626 77.23 13 7
Wally Hammond 37 3440 74.78 14 4
George Headley 19 2064 71.17 10 4
Viv Richards 45 3508 61.54 12 14
Brian Lara 45 3749 60.46 9 13



.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Sorry readers missed out Hashim Amla in original list revised list below .I have to make this important correction and inclusion.


My best batsmen at no 3 in test cricket ranked in order of merit.
I request a hearty and analytical response from Pakpassion members to my selection and ranking particularly [MENTION=291]junaid[/MENTION] [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION], [MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] [MENTION=538]bilal[/MENTION] and [MENTION=139595]Ab Fan[/MENTION]



BEST BATSMEN AT NO 3. IN TEST CRICKET

1.Don Bradman
2.Walter Hammond
3.Viv Richards
4.George Headley
5.Ricky Ponting
6.Rahul Dravid
7.Kumar Sangakaara
8.Brian Lara
9.Ken Barrington
10.Rohan Kanhai
11.Hashim Amla
12.Ian Chappell
13.David Gower
14.Frank Worrell
15.Alvin Kalicharan
16.Zaheer Abbas
17.Mohinder Amarnath
18.Dilip Vengsarkar
19.Colin Cowdrey
20.Stan Mcabe



1.Don Bradman's staggering average of 101 at no 3 speaks for itself.,simply placing him in another league.Simply a creature from another planet resembling an invincible army annnexing territory after territory.

2.Walter Hammond averaged above 74 which was remarkable.In another era which excluded Bradman may have well been the best.Took domination in bating to regions of the sublime.

3.Viv Richards averaged over 61 facing the best of paceman and also batted like an emperor in 1977-78 in Wsc supertests.Most dominating bat ever and best in peak after Bradman.


4.George Headley single-handedly carried the mantle of weak team like no batsmen ever before Lara.On wet wickets a better batsmen than Bradman.


5.Ricky Ponting was arguably better against genuine pace than Lara or Tendulkar and was comparable to Viv as an executor of the pull and hook shot and extent of domination of bowling.Scored more runs in wins than anyone ever .

6.Rahul Dravid was the king when a team's back was to the wall.At one stage overshadowed even Tendulkar as a match-winner and in overseas battting average which was amongst the 6 best ever.


7.Kumar Sangakaara was statistically in the Lara class and at no 3 stats wise close the best in terms of run aggregate.

8.Brian Lara mainly played at no 4 but was also a maestro at one down.


9.Rohan Kanhai was close to the most complete batsmen of all.Statistics hardly did justice to Kanhai who averaged 53 at no 3 being a champion in winning or saving a match.No batsmen possessed as much creative genius as Rohan who encompassed regions in batting which even Bradman did not.

10.Ken Barrington averaged over 77 at one down and statistically was on par with Gary Sobers and the bets post-war Englsih batsmen.


11.Hashim Amla was master at grafting or building an innings.Phenomenal consistency for a big part of his career with great powers of concentration .Played a great role in South Africa emerging into the world no 1 test side.

12.Ian Chappell was an epitome of grit and determination averaging 50.84 at no 3 facing the best of pace and spin bowlers.In a crisis the best batsmen of his era.


I request a hearty and analytical response from Pakpassion members particularly [MENTION=291]junaid[/MENTION] [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION], [MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] [MENTION=538]bilal[/MENTION] and [MENTION=139595]Ab Fan[/MENTION]


STATISTICS FROM S.RAJESH OF CRICINFO.


Best batsmen at No. 3 (Qual: 2000 runs) Batsman Matches Runs Average 100 50
Don Bradman 40 5078 103.63 20 10
Ken Barrington 27 2626 77.23 13 7
Wally Hammond 37 3440 74.78 14 4
George Headley 19 2064 71.17 10 4
Viv Richards 45 3508 61.54 12 14
Brian Lara 45 3749 60.46 9 13



.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

My best batsmen at no 3 in test cricket ranked in order of merit.
I request a hearty and analytical response from Pakpassion members to my selection and ranking particularly [MENTION=291]junaid[/MENTION] [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION], [MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] [MENTION=538]bilal[/MENTION] and [MENTION=139595]Ab Fan[/MENTION]



BEST BATSMEN AT NO 3. IN TEST CRICKET

1.Don Bradman
2.Walter Hammond
3.Viv Richards
4.George Headley
5.Ricky Ponting
6.Rahul Dravid
7.Kumar Sangakaara
8.Brian Lara
9.Ken Barrington
10.Rohan Kanhai
11.David Gower
12.Ian Chappell
13.Frank Worrell
14.Alvin Kalicharan
15.Zaheer Abbas
16.Mohinder Amarnath
17.Dilip Vengsarkar
18.Colin Cowdrey
19.Stan Mcabe
20.Ijaz Ahmed


1.Don Bradman's staggering average of 101 at no 3 speaks for itself.,simply placing him in another league.Simply a creature from another planet resembling an invincible army annnexing territory after territory.

2.Walter Hammond averaged above 74 which was remarkable.In another era which excluded Bradman may have well been the best.Took domination in bating to regions of the sublime.

3.Viv Richards averaged over 61 facing the best of paceman and also batted like an emperor in 1977-78 in Wsc supertests.Most dominating bat ever and best in peak after Bradman.


4.George Headley single-handedly carried the mantle of weak team like no batsmen ever before Lara.On wet wickets a better batsmen than Bradman.


5.Ricky Ponting was arguably better against genuine pace than Lara or Tendulkar and was comparable to Viv as an executor of the pull and hook shot and extent of domination of bowling.Scored more runs in wins than anyone ever .

6.Rahul Dravid was the king when a team's back was to the wall.At one stage overshadowed even Tendulkar as a match-winner and in overseas battting average which was amongst the 6 best ever.


7.Kumar Sangakaara was statistically in the Lara class and at no 3 stats wise close the best in terms of run aggregate.

8.Brian Lara mainly played at no 4 but was also a maestro at one down.


9.Rohan Kanhai was close to the most complete batsmen of all.Statistics hardly did justice to Kanhai who averaged 53 at no 3 being a champion in winning or saving a match.No batsmen possessed as much creative genius as Rohan who encompassed regions in batting which even Bradman did not.

10.Ken Barrington averaged over 77 at one down and statistically was on par with Gary Sobers and the bets post-war Englsih batsmen.


11.David Gower was elegance and artistry personified and a master of genuine pace.Posessed the grace of the divine.

12.Ian Chappell was an epitome of grit and determination averaging 50.84 at no 3 facing the best of pace and spin bowlers.In a crisis the best batsmen of his era.


I request a hearty and analytical response from Pakpassion members particularly [MENTION=291]junaid[/MENTION] [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION], [MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] [MENTION=538]bilal[/MENTION] and [MENTION=139595]Ab Fan[/MENTION]


STATISTICS FROM S.RAJESH OF CRICINFO.


Best batsmen at No. 3 (Qual: 2000 runs) Batsman Matches Runs Average 100 50
Don Bradman 40 5078 103.63 20 10
Ken Barrington 27 2626 77.23 13 7
Wally Hammond 37 3440 74.78 14 4
George Headley 19 2064 71.17 10 4
Viv Richards 45 3508 61.54 12 14
Brian Lara 45 3749 60.46 9 13



.

Sorry readers missed out Hashim Amla in original list revised list below .I have to make this important correction and inclusion.


My best batsmen at no 3 in test cricket ranked in order of merit.
I request a hearty and analytical response from Pakpassion members to my selection and ranking particularly [MENTION=291]junaid[/MENTION] [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION], [MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] [MENTION=538]bilal[/MENTION] and [MENTION=139595]Ab Fan[/MENTION]



BEST BATSMEN AT NO 3. IN TEST CRICKET

1.Don Bradman
2.Walter Hammond
3.Viv Richards
4.George Headley
5.Ricky Ponting
6.Rahul Dravid
7.Kumar Sangakaara
8.Brian Lara
9.Ken Barrington
10.Rohan Kanhai
11.Hashim Amla
12.Ian Chappell
13.David Gower
14.Frank Worrell
15.Alvin Kalicharan
16.Zaheer Abbas
17.Mohinder Amarnath
18.Dilip Vengsarkar
19.Colin Cowdrey
20.Stan Mcabe



1.Don Bradman's staggering average of 101 at no 3 speaks for itself.,simply placing him in another league.Simply a creature from another planet resembling an invincible army annnexing territory after territory.

2.Walter Hammond averaged above 74 which was remarkable.In another era which excluded Bradman may have well been the best.Took domination in bating to regions of the sublime.

3.Viv Richards averaged over 61 facing the best of paceman and also batted like an emperor in 1977-78 in Wsc supertests.Most dominating bat ever and best in peak after Bradman.


4.George Headley single-handedly carried the mantle of weak team like no batsmen ever before Lara.On wet wickets a better batsmen than Bradman.


5.Ricky Ponting was arguably better against genuine pace than Lara or Tendulkar and was comparable to Viv as an executor of the pull and hook shot and extent of domination of bowling.Scored more runs in wins than anyone ever .

6.Rahul Dravid was the king when a team's back was to the wall.At one stage overshadowed even Tendulkar as a match-winner and in overseas battting average which was amongst the 6 best ever.


7.Kumar Sangakaara was statistically in the Lara class and at no 3 stats wise close the best in terms of run aggregate.

8.Brian Lara mainly played at no 4 but was also a maestro at one down.


9.Rohan Kanhai was close to the most complete batsmen of all.Statistics hardly did justice to Kanhai who averaged 53 at no 3 being a champion in winning or saving a match.No batsmen possessed as much creative genius as Rohan who encompassed regions in batting which even Bradman did not.

10.Ken Barrington averaged over 77 at one down and statistically was on par with Gary Sobers and the bets post-war Englsih batsmen.


11.Hashim Amla was master at grafting or building an innings.Phenomenal consistency for a big part of his career with great powers of concentration .Played a great role in South Africa emerging into the world no 1 test side.

12.Ian Chappell was an epitome of grit and determination averaging 50.84 at no 3 facing the best of pace and spin bowlers.In a crisis the best batsmen of his era.


I request a hearty and analytical response from Pakpassion members particularly [MENTION=291]junaid[/MENTION] [MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION], [MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] [MENTION=538]bilal[/MENTION] and [MENTION=139595]Ab Fan[/MENTION]


STATISTICS FROM S.RAJESH OF CRICINFO.


Best batsmen at No. 3 (Qual: 2000 runs) Batsman Matches Runs Average 100 50
Don Bradman 40 5078 103.63 20 10
Ken Barrington 27 2626 77.23 13 7
Wally Hammond 37 3440 74.78 14 4
George Headley 19 2064 71.17 10 4
Viv Richards 45 3508 61.54 12 14
Brian Lara 45 3749 60.46 9 13

 

[Canford Cliffs]

Bradman ofcourse

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Bradman ofcourse

After Bradman who are your top 5 ?

 

[shaaik]

Brain Lara for me from the players I have seen bat. The guy was a freak when in flow. Someone who would hear apart any bowling attack in the world on his day. One of my all time favs. Someone I would go to watch any day of the week and twice on weekends.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Brain Lara for me from the players I have seen bat. The guy was a freak when in flow. Someone who would hear apart any bowling attack in the world on his day. One of my all time favs. Someone I would go to watch any day of the week and twice on weekends.

at his best at no3?better than even Viv Richards?Great post anyway.appreciate

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Junaid, Bilal,AB Fan,MMHS and Robert etc. please come back here .

 

[Canford Cliffs]

After Bradman who are your top 5 ?

Brother I hv not seen half of the players you listed there. Not that I hv seen Bradman either but his record suggest that dude can bat. So my list as follows:

Bradman
Lara
Dravid
Sanga
Amla

 

[MMHS]

It has to be Sir Don.

My personal choice is Viv and for 5 years Ponting, just behind (Viv also had like 65/80 stats in his 20s, but he played far too less in 1970s & missed 2 years/20-25 Test for WSC - otherwise he could have been the 1st man to reach 10K Test runs.

Beyond stats, I'll pick one more guy in this list - probably the most ideal No. 3 ever : Rohan Kanhai. You can't get a better No. 3 than RK.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

It has to be Sir Don.

My personal choice is Viv and for 5 years Ponting, just behind (Viv also had like 65/80 stats in his 20s, but he played far too less in 1970s & missed 2 years/20-25 Test for WSC - otherwise he could have been the 1st man to reach 10K Test runs.

Beyond stats, I'll pick one more guy in this list - probably the most ideal No. 3 ever : Rohan Kanhai. You can't get a better No. 3 than RK.

Great choice on Kanhai Arguably the most consummate batsmen of all and ahead of every one in terms of pure talent..What about Rahul Dravid?Not in Ponting class?Or Ted Dxter,David Gower,Walter Hammond and George Headley?Why no Headley or Hammond in your list who averaged above 70 st one down?

 

[smkk]

Please excuse my limited knowledge, my list would be:
1. Sir Don
2. Viv Richards
3. Brian Lara
4. Ricky Ponting
5. Ian Chappel
6. Kumar Sangakaara
7. Rahul Dravid

in that order.

Sir Don does not need to be said anything, absolutely in another plane.

About Viv, I would say he played in an era where cricket was not only at its best but at its touchest period. All the teams, had atleast one world class batsman and one world class bowler in their rooster except Sri Lanka. Pitches were bowling friendly, means it was actually touch to score freely. With all these obstacle, he dominated the bowling deserve all the respects in the world.

Lara, the best pressure batsman I had ever seen. Also played in a bowling friendly environment and win matches for a team where there was no one around him.

Ricky and Chappel were maestro and pleasure to watch.

I would put Sangakaara over Dravid because Dravid was not the main batsman of his team, Kumara was. And also there were number of other batsmen with Dravid to rely on, Kumara had only one.

 

[MMHS]

Great choice on Kanhai Arguably the most consummate batsmen of all and ahead of every one in terms of pure talent..What about Rahul Dravid?Not in Ponting class?Or Ted Dxter,��David Gower,Walter Hammond and George Headley?Why no Headley or Hammond in your list who averaged above 70 st one down?

Tough to rank after top few - you tell me, how you can rank VVS, Azhar & Vishi? Headley & Hammond were actually more No. 4 than No. 3.

ENG traditionally, plays their best middle order at 4; though Hammond's best series (1928-29) was from No. 3, I tend to rate him as No. 4, rather than No. 3. Even for Gloster, he has over 100 Centuries from No. 4.

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Tough to rank after top few - you tell me, how you can rank VVS, Azhar & Vishi? Headley & Hammond were actually more No. 4 than No. 3.

ENG traditionally, plays their best middle order at 4; though Hammond's best series (1928-29) was from No. 3, I tend to rate him as No. 4, rather than No. 3. Even for Gloster, he has over 100 Centuries from No. 4.

Rahul Dravid?where would you place him?

 

[Harsh Thakor]

Please excuse my limited knowledge, my list would be:
1. Sir Don
2. Viv Richards
3. Brian Lara
4. Ricky Ponting
5. Ian Chappel
6. Kumar Sangakaara
7. Rahul Dravid

in that order.

Sir Don does not need to be said anything, absolutely in another plane.

About Viv, I would say he played in an era where cricket was not only at its best but at its touchest period. All the teams, had atleast one world class batsman and one world class bowler in their rooster except Sri Lanka. Pitches were bowling friendly, means it was actually touch to score freely. With all these obstacle, he dominated the bowling deserve all the respects in the world.

Lara, the best pressure batsman I had ever seen. Also played in a bowling friendly environment and win matches for a team where there was no one around him.

Ricky and Chappel were maestro and pleasure to watch.

I would put Sangakaara over Dravid because Dravid was not the main batsman of his team, Kumara was. And also there were number of other batsmen with Dravid to rely on, Kumara had only one.

A very good list and a very analytical ranking. Like your rating of Ian Chappell,a great batsmen in my book.Also analysed Viv and Lara very accurately. I don't think Lara was ahead of Ponting at no 3 and rate Dravid marginally better than Sanga because of better record overseas.

 

[MMHS]

Rahul Dravid?where would you place him?

I'll say the same - after top 3-4, it's impossible. I might contradict in different posts, discussing different aspects of the game. I put him, Sanga, Amla, Zaheer, and may be few others just one tier below the top bunch, and I won't rank them. You can discuss head 2 head between two, but too risky to rank 5-6 in some order.

Tell me, how can you rate Vic Trumper - when he probably averages lower than Tamim; but he'll be my opener always in AUS AT XI. I just don't rank players on numbers or face value - rather I try to read and history and find out their impact in contemporary game.

First few are obvious, therefore it's easy, but after than we can only club players from 150 years.

 

[austerlitz]

Bradman.
If we are talking mortals king viv.