Callum Ferguson - Pontings Succesor at number 3?

[HFF_07]

I have been watching with great intent on young Callum Ferguson this series against the proteas, and he seems to have a very tidy technique and I think he will be our next number three when Ponting retires. He has a good temperament after some young indescretions in the past. I think he is better suited than say a Michael Clarke, as Clarke only has one gear, and that is 4th gear, not all out, nor is it to hold up an end, he tends to hit alot of the balls 'through' the field at catchable height, something he was warned about in his early exchanges of international cricket. Ferguson on the other hand has shown he is able to read the play well, making a couple of very handy fifties when the rest of the team folded, and is also very capable of getting a run a ball twenty or thirty when required at the end of the innings.

Now I know alot of you say that Clarke is the answer because he has opened the innings and has batted at three in Pontings abscence occasionaly, I do not think this is the case and he should be best left to that number 5 role, and finish the innings with his awesome running between the wickets and deft footwork, something that is best suited to later in the innings.

What are peoples thoughts on this subject?

[courtjester]

I have been watching with great intent on young Callum Ferguson this series against the proteas, and he seems to have a very tidy technique and I think he will be our next number three when Ponting retires. He has a good temperament after some young indescretions in the past. I think he is better suited than say a Michael Clarke, as Clarke only has one gear, and that is 4th gear, not all out, nor is it to hold up an end, he tends to hit alot of the balls 'through' the field at catchable height, something he was warned about in his early exchanges of international cricket. Ferguson on the other hand has shown he is able to read the play well, making a couple of very handy fifties when the rest of the team folded, and is also very capable of getting a run a ball twenty or thirty when required at the end of the innings.

Now I know alot of you say that Clarke is the answer because he has opened the innings and has batted at three in Pontings abscence occasionaly, I do not think this is the case and he should be best left to that number 5 role, and finish the innings with his awesome running between the wickets and deft footwork, something that is best suited to later in the innings.

What are peoples thoughts on this subject?

Fair points. Ferguson's technique looks good. I agree that Clarke is best suited to 4 or 5.
There will be plenty of contenders for that #3 spot when it is available. Shaun Marsh, Phil Hughes and Dave Warner are all young and not currently in the Aust one day team. They'd actually all be pretty handy at the top of the order now.

[HFF_07]

Fair points. Ferguson's technique looks good. I agree that Clarke is best suited to 4 or 5.
There will be plenty of contenders for that #3 spot when it is available. Shaun Marsh, Phil Hughes and Dave Warner are all young and not currently in the Aust one day team. They'd actually all be pretty handy at the top of the order now.

Yes agree, but only twp of the three mentioned will be playing regularly, and I think it will be Warner and Marsh, when every one is fit, Hughes will be left to playing in the domestic scene until he can take a few games by the scruff of the neck and assert himself.

Back to ferguson, I have just been really impressed by his discipline in the early parts of his international career, has a cool and calm head on his shoulders, has some striking characteristics between he and Ponting, not just on the field either :rolleyes:

Hopefully he finds out his ture potential, so we can watch with awe as he turns into a star.

[Bennycoff]

Ferguson has surprised me, done really well, I just hope he holds his spot when the other guys come back.

[grizzlym]

The wraps on him have been huge ever since his debut. Not necessarily backed up by his numbers, but people really rate him. Off memory, The Ages annual survey of first class cricketers saw his peers rank him the best young batsman in the country for a couple of years in a row. (Whether that's a good guide or not I don't know.)

I think this year Hughes took that 'honour' away from him. By brother plays first class cricket and says he's very gifted. He says when he puts it all together, which he thinks he will, he'll be a very good international player, both at test and ODI.

[GoDoggies]

The wraps on him have been huge ever since his debut. Not necessarily backed up by his numbers, but people really rate him. Off memory, The Ages annual survey of first class cricketers saw his peers rank him the best young batsman in the country for a couple of years in a row. (Whether that's a good guide or not I don't know.)

I think this year Hughes took that 'honour' away from him. By brother plays first class cricket and says he's very gifted. He says when he puts it all together, which he thinks he will, he'll be a very good international player, both at test and ODI.

Not backed up by his numbers? The kid is averaging 60 from 7 matches

[grizzlym]

Not backed up by his numbers? The kid is averaging 60 from 7 matches

First class average. More so his 4 day average, which doesn't particularly scream class batsman. Can't fault his numbers at the start of his international career.

[Masten_Magic]

i think he has gone under the radar with big names like hussey, clarke and pointing in the team

[Kane McGoodwin]

i think he has gone under the radar with big names like hussey, clarke and pointing in the team
He has also managed to keep his cool to rebuild as the bigger names have collapsed & put pressure on him to keep the batting together.

[DoubleO7]

No... keep him where he is. A shift in position may affect his batting in a negative fashion.

[BigCat2]

No... keep him where he is. A shift in position may affect his batting in a negative fashion.

As Ponting's successor at 3 - nobody's suggesting shifting him now.

[DoubleO7]

As Ponting's successor at 3 - nobody's suggesting shifting him now.
What if Ponting sustains an injury which rules him out for an ODI or two?

[LIONS then DAYLIGHT]

To me the perfect number 3 is one who can defend and weather a storm and then launch of sizzling counter-attack. These traits in batsmen are what i look for in a player, Ricky Ponting is the best i have seen at it in this generation.

Other batsmen of similar quality hide themselves lower down the order, KP, Tendulkar, all fit that criteria. Steve Waugh was another early in his career. As such I rate players who bat at 3 and suceed there highly, it is the toughest position to bat. However, it is also one where a batsmen can greatly influence the team's chance of winning.

The perfect example was in the first test at Joburg, Ponting is in before the first over ends, 3 wickets fall quickly, then after weathering the storm (albeit with a bit of luck) Ponting launchs a counter attack that paved the way for the likes of North to follow. IMO it was the most important innings of the series, Ponting got 80 odd but he blazed a lot of those runs in boundaries after defending grimly, the momentum was seized, the path had been made, North and co just had to follow it.

To me a batsmen at number 3 has to be capable of doing those things. Ferguson appears to fit that bill. More so then Clarke in my opinion. I also believe Watson is a contender for the number 3 spot. Technically he is good and can play off both feet.

None however display the obvious penchant for the number 3 position, unlike Ponting who early in his career blasted 80 odd at the Gabba against the likes of Ambrose and Walsh at one of his first outings at 3.



The number 3 is a pivotal position,

[courtjester]

The 1 day batting order in 3 years (post Ponting, Symonds & Husseys):

Phil Hughes
Shaun Marsh
Dave Warner
Callum Ferguson
Michael Clark (likely captain)
Shane Watson (will still only be just over 30. hopefully able to bowl)
Cameron White (must become an economical spinner who takes 1-2 wickets)
James Hopes (will be getting on but is a guy who seems to not get injured)
Mitchell Johnson
Shaun Tait (maybe. who knows?)
Ben Hilfenhaus

I actually reckon Ferguson looks like he'll be a good 4-5, someone who comes in in the 15th-20th over and works the ball around for 20 overs, while Warner, Watson and White smash it around.

I'd love to see Dave Warner batting at 3 for Australia post Ponting. I don't care what anyone says, I love the guy. He hits it clean and hard.

[aussie1st]

Warner is better as opener, Marsh probably could slot into the number 3 spot as he has shown he can knuckle down when needed and going by his IPL he can change gears. Watson is the other option, hes got the technique and again can counter attack when needed.

Ferguson would be perfect for the number 4 spot being able to score at a run a ball which we haven't had in ages.

[HFF_07]

No... keep him where he is. A shift in position may affect his batting in a negative fashion.

Ponting began his career at number 6, moved to number three and became one of the greatest batsmen the game has ever seen.

To me the perfect number 3 is one who can defend and weather a storm and then launch of sizzling counter-attack. These traits in batsmen are what i look for in a player, Ricky Ponting is the best i have seen at it in this generation.

Other batsmen of similar quality hide themselves lower down the order, KP, Tendulkar, all fit that criteria. Steve Waugh was another early in his career. As such I rate players who bat at 3 and suceed there highly, it is the toughest position to bat. However, it is also one where a batsmen can greatly influence the team's chance of winning.

To me a batsmen at number 3 has to be capable of doing those things. Ferguson appears to fit that bill. More so then Clarke in my opinion. I also believe Watson is a contender for the number 3 spot. Technically he is good and can play off both feet.

None however display the obvious penchant for the number 3 position, unlike Ponting who early in his career blasted 80 odd at the Gabba against the likes of Ambrose and Walsh at one of his first outings at 3.



The number 3 is a pivotal position,

I agree totally with this observation and think that Ferguson, in the none so distant future could fill this void.

Agree that Watson could also be a very viable option here too, lets get him out on the park first though :rolleyes:

[raikkonen]

What if Ponting sustains an injury which rules him out for an ODI or two?

Or he gets rested for a 5 (?) match ODI series against Pakistan very soon.....;)

[Blue and Gold Blood]

This guy has been faultless so far. What's his test batting like? Seems so comfortable in any situation and looks to have a big career ahead of him playing for australia.

[aussie1st]

He can bat anywhere but I reckon hes being groomed as the replacement for Hussey as the finisher. Those sorts of guys are hard to find, amazingly we have managed Bevan, Hussey and now Ferguson all come in and replace one another.

[King Elvis]

Looks more of a Test no 4 than a 3 doesn't he?

[Cap]

its amazing how a guy can go from a state lacky with no credability to being assessed as a replacement no.3 for one of thebest bats in the country all in 18 months.

Well done Ferg and well done whoever got his confidence back. Always had the talent.

[courtjester]

Looks more of a Test no 4 than a 3 doesn't he?

Agreed.

[deledio7]

I actually think he would suit batting number 5 or 6 in the test arena. I still can't see who will take over at number 3 when punter retires. It is a hugely important position which many other countries have struggled to fill.

I think Punter still has 3 or 4 years left in him anyway, he has stated he wants to be around when we challenge for the Ashes in 2011(?)

[HFF_07]

I actually think he would suit batting number 5 or 6 in the test arena. I still can't see who will take over at number 3 when punter retires. It is a hugely important position which many other countries have struggled to fill.

I think Punter still has 3 or 4 years left in him anyway, he has stated he wants to be around when we challenge for the Ashes in 2011(?)

Yeah, agreed.

I have just been hugely impressed by Ferguson though, and this whole saga has been on the one day arena not the test arena too ;) is able to pick up the ante when required, is able to defend when required also, a more than viable option at three I would of thought!

[courtjester]

I actually think he would suit batting number 5 or 6 in the test arena. I still can't see who will take over at number 3 when punter retires. It is a hugely important position which many other countries have struggled to fill.

I think Punter still has 3 or 4 years left in him anyway, he has stated he wants to be around when we challenge for the Ashes in 2011(?)

I think in reality Watson will become Australia's #3 after Ponting retires, and we'll bring in an opener.

[Bomber Bears]

Really hope Fergusson gets a good summer of first class cricket behind him so he can replace hussey in the side. Clarke up to 4 and Fergusson at 5 with North at 6. Hopefully Hughes gets back at opener instead of shane 'weakness is the straight ball' Watson.

[Zarrix]

I really like Ferguson's temprament. Definitely potentially a future no.3.

[Wicked Lester]

It's a big call.

I assume we're talking about who takes number 3 in both test matches and ODI's. They could be different people of course.

I'm not sold on Ferguson as a test number 3, but then no-one else is really putting their hand up for the job either.

As others have stressed, batting at 3 is a really tough gig. Perhaps the best indication of how tough it is can be gauged by how many great players have either tried and failed at 3, tried but still preferred to bat at 4, 5 or 6 or simply never tried at all.

It's quite a roll call. Steve Waugh tried and failed and didn't put up his hand for another go, ditto Alan Border, Mark Waugh preferred things at 4, Greg Chappell preformed adequately at 3 but preferred and was more successful at 4, Lara preferred it things at 4 and Sachin Tendulkar (last time I looked) had never once in his entire test career batted at 3.

And for those of us who can remember the many failed attempts to find someone to fill the roll between Ian Chappell's retirement and David Boon's move into the position will remember, its not great for the team to be '2 for' without too many on the board.

Boon was good. Ponting has been brilliant.

Ferguson? Time will tell, but just as no-one looks immediately capable of replacing Warne and McGrath don't expect Ferguson to replicate Ponting's record. If he can do a 'Boon' for us, that'll do nicely.