Bangladesh, Sept. 8 -- Some numbers in cricket are not just numbers. Number three, for example.

Since the one-down have to come in after an opener becomes out, Number-Three batter has to test of the new ball, and once the first wicket falls, the burden of the team's innings falls on his shoulders.

At this point, the batter sometimes has to patiently handle the pressure, sometimes he has to score runs quickly and set the tone for the batting.

Don Bradman, Vivian Richards, Ricky Ponting, Rahul Dravid, Kumar Sangakkara-all such legendary batters could explain the importance of one- down or Number-Three position better.

That importance is still there. If you look at the performance of batters at Number-Three in Test cricket in the last t...