The Number 4 position in ODIs holds a fascinating allure for batsmen. It stands as one of the most enigmatic spots to bat across all formats of the game. A player occupying this slot requires a versatile skill set to excel, essentially shouldering the responsibility of the entire batting lineup. This role demands adaptability throughout the game – from battling through early overs on rainy days to stepping onto the crease during the power-packed overs on brighter occasions, usually around the 25-over mark or even as early as the 5th over.
The true virtuoso at Number 4 possesses the ability to play the patient waiting game or unleash explosive hits right from the first ball. In the past, teams had the luxury of such players, but the era of T20 cricket has brought about a shift, giving rise to more format-specific batters. This article delves into how teams entering the World Cup are grappling with the perplexing challenge of identifying the ideal Number 4 batter within their squad, capturing the very essence of this cricketing enigma at No.4.
Australia:
Post 2019 WC, Australia played Marnus Labuschagne at No.4. He played 21 innings and scored 697 runs at 33.19. But just three months before the WC, he was dropped from the SA tour and WC squad. They are facing a dilemma. Mitchell Marsh is in red-hot form this year. He bamboozled India in their den. He used to bat at No.4 but in that series, they opened with him due to the unavailability of Warner but oh boy he didn’t let that opportunity go by.
Warner is a regular opener but he is horribly out of form for the last 2 years. Travis Head is also going bonkers in any game he plays. Steve Smith was their regular No.4 up till 2019. But after the arrival of Labuschagne, he was promoted to No.3. In the last ODI series against India, Australia played Marcus Stoinis at No.4. So, it is yet to be seen how will their final XI shape up, who will be their opener alongside Davy and but the Enigma at No.4 looms over Australia.
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New Zealand :
New Zealand had a steady No.4 in the form of Tom Latham. But Willamson’s injury in the IPL has disturbed their settled line-up. They played Daryll Mitchell at No.4 in the last series against Pakistan. The irony is that Fin Allen is heading to his first ODI WC without a single significant performance in ODI at the international stage. Tom Latham has been a great opener for them historically in India. They will have a look at it. Williamson might pull an undertaker and arise from the cave. Enigma at No.4 stands still for New Zealand.
South Africa:
South Africa had the services of Faf in the world cup 2019. But then came Rassie van der Dussen who made his debut against Pakistan. He scored a ton against Pakistan on his debut. He has been impeccable at No.4. At the moment, he is the best middle-order batter in the world. There is a catch in his performances. He has not been able to perform in Asian Conditions. He was struggling during the IPL and PSL. Numbers suggest that SA has avoided the enigma at No.4 but numbers can be deceptive.
England:
England will enter the world cup as defending champions. England has not played much ODI cricket post-2019. They also have not played their best possible squad in any of the matches. Some of their key players have either retired or are in the recovery process. They have tried James Vince (Australia series), Ben Stokes (Pakistan series), Liam Livingston (India series), and Harry Brook (South Africa series) at No.4.
Now Ben Stokes has retired however BBC has broken the news that the ECB is in talks with Ben Stokes to come out of retirement. If Ben Stokes comes out of retirement, then they will go with Brook at 4, him at 5, and Livingston at 6. Brook failed horribly in the IPL. He is a potential superstar but his performance on two-paced wickets is not something to brag about.
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India:
The no. 4 position has been an enigma for India since Yuvraj Singh’s retirement. They entered the 2019 WC with Vijay Shankar. They thought of him as Yuvi’s replacement. He can bat, bowl a few overs in the middle, and is good in the field. He couldn’t perform and was dropped from the team after 4 matches. He was replaced by Rishab Pant and India was hoping against hope with him. He also couldn’t live up to the expectations.
India demoted KL Rahul at No.4 and this decision turned out to be golden dust. He averaged in the excess of 40. Shreyas Iyer was given a go at No.4 and he put up a consistent performance. He scored 865 @47.35 at the strike rate of 94.37. But the irony is that both of them were injured before the WC. If they don’t recover before WC, the enigma at No.4 will be a Deja Vu for India leading into WC.
Pakistan:
The case of Pakistan’s No.4 position is very interesting. It has Pakistan written all over it. They had a very stable batter at No.4 in the form of Rizwan averaging 40+. And it was confirmed that he will bat at this position. But wait for Pakistan management who works in mysterious ways. They demoted Rizwan to No.4 in the series against New Zealand. Mickey Arthur in his interview said that Riz will bat at 5. Now, the AC lineup will decide whether Rizwan will bat at 4 or not.
Conclusion:
In the dynamic landscape of ODI cricket, the enigma at No.4 persists as teams grapple with ever-changing personnel, form, and strategies, seeking the elusive formula for success in a position that demands adaptability and precision.
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