Former captain Allan Border has backed Shane Watson as Australia’s best No.3 batsman.
Weighing in on Australia’s batting woes in the lead-up to the four-Test series against India that starts at the Gabba on December 4, Border declared on Tuesday Watson was the best man to bat at first drop.
“From what I’m observing and watching, I think Shane Watson is probably the best suited to that role,” Border said.
“I just think where he’s at now … he’s got a very good defence and he’s improving all the time.”
The former selector said Watson would remain a “good longish-term option” in the position, provided he stayed injury free, because he was capable of taking an attack on or shutting up shop depending on the situation.
Phillip Hughes was better suited as an opening batsman, he said.
Border’s comments come after cricket great Ian Chappell’s criticism of skipper Michael Clarke for expressing doubt about Watson’s top-order credentials.
Chappell agreed Watson belonged in the top three and slammed Clarke for his apparent inability to craft an effective batting order.
The No.3 batting position has been a problem for Australia since Ricky Ponting’s demotion to No.4 in 2011.
Watson has been the most successful of the 11 batsmen used at first drop in the past three years, scoring the side’s only two centuries at No.3 in the post-Ponting era.
Alex Doolan started the recent 2-0 series loss to Pakistan as the incumbent No.3, but was dumped after the first Test when he scored 5 and 0.
Glenn Maxwell was a surprise selection for the second fixture, hitting a quickfire 37 in the first innings before getting out for four in the second dig.
Others have pointed to Steve Smith as the obvious player to move up the order – a suggestion Clarke promptly dismissed as “fantasy”.
The spotlight on Australia’s batting order problems came after the side crumbled in the disastrous Test series against Pakistan.
According to Border, reinstating distinct state pitches within Australia could be the answer to making the national squad more comfortable overseas.
“I advocate that we should have different types of pitches all around Australia, like we used to,” he told ABC radio.
“The Perth pitch was hard, fast and bouncy; the Sydney pitch was a slow-turner.”
“The variety makes you a more complete all-round cricketer.”
SHANE WATSON’s TEST RECORD AT NO.3:
* 10 Tests
* 19 innings
* 749 runs at 41.61
* Two centuries
