Amla says it's Mulder time

PROTEAS legend Hashim Amla reckons Wiaan Mulder will be able to do a good job coming in at No.3 against Australia in today’s ICC Test Championship final at Lord’s . 

The 27-year-old Mulder usually bats lower down the order at number seven, but has been asked to come in at No.3 in the past. 

In fact, he has done so on two occasions without much luck - scoring 15 and 5 respectively. 

But the Proteas currently have been in a state of flux, having utilised Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs and Mulder, at No,3 in their last four Tests. 

But with Rickelton having been promoted to the top of order and Stubbs now seemingly preferred to slot in the middle-order, it has left Mulder and Tony de Zorzi to battle it out for the vacancy at Lord’s.

De Zorzi is the more accomplished batter, having opened the batting for the Proteas prior to the New Year Test, but captain Temba Bavuma yesterday announced that it will be Mulder who will come in after the first wicket has fallen.

And Amla says: “When I started at No.3, I wasn’t a No.3 batter. I actually preferred the Nos.4 and 5, but batting at No.3 for South Africa was the only gap at the time…

“In this current team, there may not be guys who’ve batted at No 3 domestically. But there is a time for them to start.

“So, if Wiaan bats at No.3, it might be his time. You need time to learn the position, and although it’s a big final, and it's tough to be in the deep end like, but he can make it work.

“Technically, you have some really good players. Wiaan and Stubbs are technically good enough.”