Prince EWS
Global Moderator
I think there's slightly more to it than picking people where they usually bat, whereas you don't. Batsmen will usually bat in the top order in first class cricket, because their teams want them to set the innings up and bat for as long as possible. Opening batsmen at first class level can come about simply through a player getting pushed up there in Z Grade to give them time to score 300 and eventually selected as an opener in each and every grade. It gives them some experience there, but does it actually give them the technique to do it at test level? No, IMO. Some players will be more suited to opening in tests than others, regardless of where they batted at first class level. Obviously, opening at first class level is desirable, but when you have little options, you have to try something else, and FC #3s succeeding as test openers is not that rare, especially in well-coached systems like South Africa.I don't think de Villiers will ever find his feet as a lower-middle-order batsman. Ever. He's never batted there. I've had the discussion about his technique and opening with you before, people can make successful Test openers despite not appearing to be technically proficient enough. I don't feel de Villiers has failed at Test level as an opener sufficiently for people to write him off and say he should never open again in a Test - certainly not if the only alternative is McKenzie.
Regarding Dippenaar, I certainly don't feel he's conclusively someone who'd be best in the middle-order. In his first 29 innings against Test-class teams as a middle-order batsman he averaged less than 26, little different to his average as an opener of 23. He's had a few innings which have pushed that up (one of which was decidedly fortunate) of late, but his Test career has always been a mess in so many ways. I don't ever see him becoming Test-class wherever, really.
Gibbs has not been a Test-class opener (or middle-order batsman either for that matter) for a long time now. It's annoying that he got back in the team in 2004\05, pushing de Villiers down the order and starting the problems. I'd have preferred it if he'd either not gone out ITFP or if de Villiers had simply kept him out.