Batting at No. 3 – Is Kusal Perera Sri Lanka’s best option?

Sri Lanka’s promotion of Kusal Janith Perera to the pivotal No. 3 position in the batting order has been perhaps one of the most talked about topics in the 1st South Africa vs Sri Lanka Test. Both experts and fans have weighed in on why this is most definitely not the right decision on the part of the Sri Lankan think tank, so here’s a look at how he compares with Test no. 3s around the world.

Sri Lanka – Kusal Janith Perera

Kusal Perera has spent almost half of his short Test career batting at the top of the order, quite surprisingly, as he was initially brought in as the Wicket-keeper who was expected to come in at No. 7 in the batting line-up. The experiment that began during the home series against Australia will likely (hopefully) be brought to a close in the 2nd Test against South Africa.

World Test Ranking – 64

India – Cheteswar Pujara

Pujara made his debut back in 2010 and has, over the past couple of years, cemented his place in the Indian XI, making the No.3 position his own. Although he started his career at number 6, Pujara has either batted at No. 3 or opened the innings since 2012, making 10 centuries and 10 fifties batting in the top 3. His conversion rate is also phenomenal and he could perhaps be described as the perfect No. 3 in Tests.

World Test Ranking – 9

Australia – Usman Khawaja

To most Sri Lankan fans whose 1st real sighting of Khawaja came in the recent Sri Lanka vs Australia series, his record will perhaps come as somewhat off a surprise. Khawaja was all at sea against the likes of Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera and Lakshan Sandakan but the left hander has been quite impressive overall, particularly at home. Like Pujara, he has spent a majority of his Test career batting in the top 3.

World Test Ranking – 18

Pakistan – Babar Azam

Perhaps the most inexperienced No. 3 in this line-up, Azam is yet to prove his worth in the Test arena. He has had an impressive run in the shorter format however and his 90* in Hamilton will perhaps be enough to convince the Pakistan selectors to give him a few more chances at the top of the order.

World Test Ranking – 90

South Africa – Hashim Amla

Like Pujara, Amla started in the middle order but has not batted below the top 4 since 2006. With more than 7,500 Test runs under his belt, the former South African skipper is another conventional No. 3 batsman. The stylish right-hander has suffered a dip in form of late, with his last Test hundred coming 11 months ago – a long wait for a batsman of his caliber.

World Test Ranking – 5

England – Joe Root

Just 4 years after making his debut for England, Root is already considered one of the best current batmen in all formats of the game. Unlike the other batsmen featured on this list, Root has been moved up and down the order quite consistently in Test cricket and has only enjoyed an extended run at No. 3 since June of this year. Despite the constant changes, he has remained one of England’s most prolific batsmen.

World Test Ranking – 3

New Zealand – Kane Williamson

New Zealand’s skipper Williamson is widely considered one of the most dependable and level headed players in world cricket currently. A century on debut in India was a sign of great things to come for the diminutive right hander, who has lived up to the lofty expectations, becoming only the 13th(and the fastest) batsmen to score a hundred against all other Test playing nations, in August this year.

World Test Ranking – 4

West Indies – Darren Bravo

In a struggling West Indian line-up, Darren Bravo has often provided some relief fans from the Caribbean. His Lara-esque stroke-play has often been what has stood between a respectable total and a West Indian collapse. He is without a doubt the best batsmen in the current West Indian Test team.

World Test Ranking – 29

Bangladesh – Mominul Haque

Known to prize his wicket, Haque has secured his position in the Bangladeshi team with some important knocks under pressure. He also went 11 consecutive Test matches with a score of 50 or more, equaling an achievement made by Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Sir Viv Richards, and bettered only by AB de Villiers’ 12-match record. In his 34 innings thus far, he has only ever batted at No.3 & 4.

World Test Ranking – 28

Zimbabwe – Hamilton Masakadza

Zimbabwe play so little cricket in comparison with the other Test playing nations that it would be hard for players to string together any meaningful performances. Over the years, Masakadza has established himself as a permanent member of the Zimbabwe team, in all formats of the game and remains one of their best batsmen.

World Test Ranking – 52

Looking through this list of players, there seem to be 2 factors that have determined their batting position. All of them are either one of their team’s top 3 batsmen or, in the case of Babar Azam and Mominul Haque, are batsmen who are expected to be integral parts of their teams’ batting line-ups for years to come. Kusal Perera is neither one of Sri Lanka’s best batsmen nor is he seen as someone who will take on the role of a Sangakkara, Ponting or Dravid in the future, so what is the thinking behind sending him up at No.3? Is he a good enough player to make it into the starting XI as a pure batsman?  All questions the Sri Lankan selectors need to look long and hard at if there is to be some improvement in Sri Lanka’s batting in the next Test.