5 best No. 6 batsmen for Australia in Tests

The number 6 batsman has a very specific role to play in a side and over the years, Australia have had plenty of excellent batsmen at that position. A batsman at number 6, like all Test batsmen, should have a sound defensive technique since he might have to face the 2nd new ball.

He must also be a good stroke-maker and capable of taking on the spin bowlers. Last but not least, an ideal number 6 needs to have the skill of batting with the tail and managing the strike in order to maximise the score. Australia have had plenty of batsmen who have shown these requisite skills and have gone on to become greats at the number 6 position. Here is a look at 5 of the best.

#5 Doug Walters

The former Australian cricketer is regarded as one of the greatest middle-order batsmen to have played for his country and for the majority of his Test career from 1965 to 1981, Doug Walters remained a superb number 6 for his team.

Out of the 74 Test matches that the right-handed batsman played in his career, he batted at number 6 in 34 games and went on to become the 4th highest run scorer at the position for his country, with a total of 1869 runs.

He was a superb attacking batsman and believed in getting on top of the bowlers right from the start. In 34 Test matches, he averaged 47.92 at number 6 and made six centuries, in addition to nine half-centuries.

#4 Mike Hussey

Mike Hussey

Mr Cricket. may have made a name for himself as one of the best number 5 batsmen to have played for Australia, but he also remains one of the most prolific players to have batted at number 6.

Michael Hussey had to wait till he was 30 before he could make his Test debut but once he did, back in 2005, he became a permanent fixture in the side. The left-hander had the ability to negotiate pace, swing and seam, which made it possible for him to not only bat on difficult tracks but also negotiate the second new ball when it came along.

On the other hand, he was an excellent player of spin and had the ability to bat with the tail. It is no surprise then, that Hussey is the 5th highest scorer at the position for Australia with a tally of 1242 runs, but what is more impressive is that he averaged an excellent 51.75 in those games.

He made 5 centuries and 4 half-centuries while batting at number 6.

#3 Ricky Ponting

Ricky Ponting

Ricky Ponting is arguably the greatest Australian batsman since Sir Donald Bradman and although he is known for his prowess at No. 3, he did bat at number 6 in the early years of his career.

He played in 168 Test matches for Australia but in 34 of those between 1995 and 2004 (actual career 1995-2014), the right-hander batted at number 6. The former Australian captain possessed an attacking game that was perfectly suited to the number 6 position and courtesy the vast array of strokes in his arsenal, he often made a mockery of bowling attacks.

However, some of his troubles against spin bowling did surface from time to time in the subcontinent, denting his superb record at number 6. In 34 Tests, Ponting made 1989 runs at an average of 49.72 and remains the third highest scorer in the position for Australia. He made 7 centuries and 8 half-centuries.

#2 Allan Border

Allan Border

One of the most influential captains in modern Australian cricket history and also one of their best middle-order batsmen ever, Allan Border remained one of the pillars of the batting line-up for 15 years.

Border batted at several positions throughout his 156-game long Test career and out of those, he played at number 6 in 48 Test matches. He possessed a good defensive technique, was excellent against spin and had a wide range of strokes to counter the opposition bowlers.

In 48 Tests, Border made 2556 runs at an average of 52.16 and that remains the highest average by any Australian batsman at that position. He made 6 centuries and 17 half-centuries.

#1 Steve Waugh

Steve Waugh

The former Australian captain is one of the greatest batsmen to have played for the country and among the best to have set foot in the Test arena. Although he played at number 5 for the majority of his 19-year career (1985-2004) spanning 168 Tests, he did bat at number 6 in 66 Test matches.

Waugh was not the most gifted of batsmen but he made up for it through determination, discipline, hunger for runs and a bloody-minded refusal to give up his wicket. He remains the highest run scorer at the position for Australia, with a total of 3165 runs, at an average of 51.04. He made 6 centuries and as many as 16 half-centuries during the course of his stint at number 6.