South Africa 'A' captain Marques Ackerman and teammate Jordan Hermann.
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COMMENT
For nearly a decade, the Proteas' No 3 Test batting spot has been a poisoned chalice.
Since the legendary Hashim Amla vacated the crease, it has been a revolving door of hopefuls, stopgaps and fleeting successes. Coach Shukri Conrad had earmarked Tristan Stubbs for the crucial position before pulling a rabbit out of the hat with all-rounder Wiaan Mulder for the World Test Championship final at Lord’s last year.
Although Mulder smashed a record-breaking 367 not out at first drop against Zimbabwe in the follow-up series, Stubbs was back at No 3 for the India series, striking a crucial 94 in the second Test in Guwahati to wrap up the clean sweep.
But ahead of a crucial Test season — where the World Test Champions will face the might of Australia, England and Bangladesh at home — the jury is still out as to who will walk out at number three this summer.
Outside of the aforementioned, there are two talented left-handed batters — Marques Ackerman and Jordan Hermann — who are throwing their names into the hat for Conrad and national selection convenor Pat Moroney to chew over.
Ackerman, 30, has cut his teeth on the domestic circuit for a number of seasons, and the SA ‘A’ and Dolphins captain has the experience not to be overawed by the occasion. His breathtaking 173 off just 136 balls in the first unofficial Test against the England Lions at Arundel was a massive statement of intent.
Walking in with his team in deep trouble, Ackerman counter-attacked with 25 fours and five sixes, showing the ability to transfer the pressure back onto the opposition — a trait favoured by Conrad. He certainly believes he is ready to take the next step up. Understanding his own game implicitly, he has placed the ball firmly in the selectors’ court.
After a quiet start to the series, Hermann showed his potential in the second ‘Test’ at Beckenham. Batting at No 3, Hermann delivered a clinical 103 off 111 balls, proving he has the temperament and defensive solidity required for top-order Test cricket in moving conditions.
The 24-year-old followed it up with an unbeaten 32 to steer the SA ‘A’ side home and wrap up the series 2-0.
“It’s nice to contribute to the team with a hundred,” said Hermann. “It was a bit of a tricky position that we found ourselves in, but a couple of partnerships down the order were crucial to getting the lead.
“Conditions were good for the most part. There was some movement, so I just tried to attack the bad balls and defend the good balls. At the back end, I tried to score as quickly as I could with the tailenders.”
Hermann possesses the classical compactness required to weather the new ball if an opener falls early — the true, traditional test of a number three — and due to his relative youth, giving the Warriors batter an extended run now could solve the Proteas' top-order headache for the next decade.
Equally, Ackerman is still young enough for an extended Test career and is approaching his batting prime. One thing is for certain: both batters have given Conrad and Moroney pleasant headaches ahead of a hectic Test season.