WATCH: Wiaan Mulder 'technically good enough' to bat at No 3 in Lord's final, says Proteas legend Hashim Amla

Proteas legend Hashim Amla has backed allrounder Wiaan Mulder for the crucial No 3 spot for the World Test Championship final against Australia, starting on Wednesday at Lord’s.

Amla, who was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in London on Monday evening, walked to the crease in the crucial first drop position in 107 of his 124 Tests. He formed the bedrock of the Proteas batting line-up during their most successful era, scoring 7993 runs at an average of 49.35, including a record unbeaten 311 from No 3. 

The Proteas currently though 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 successfully banked the opening berth after a double century in the New Year Test against Pakistan at Newlands, 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 it is well-known that Proteas coach Shukri Conrad is keen to get a fifth bowler into the starting XI to support his four-pronged attack.

It certainly will be a risk, who has failed in all his three previous starts at No 3, whilst only recently striking his maiden Test century from No 7 against Bangladesh last year.

Amla, though, believes Mulder does have the ability to fulfill the role in the WTC final, especially in regards to the Proteas’ overall gameplan.

“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,” Amla said.

“They asked me, and I did it. I had a season doing it for the Dolphins and then got into the national team.

“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.

“Also the style of cricket South Africa seem to be playing, it's a little bit more attacking, so in many ways your technique is not tested as much because you are playing a bit more shots than normal, so it might work into the way South Africa are playing.”

Amla, though, stressed that the essential requirements for long-term success remain the same.

“You have to be able to handle the new ball, because most of the time, you end up coming in pretty early,” he said.

“You're always prepping for that. You have to have good technique. You have to have the experience of batting in the top order for a long time. That makes the quality of a good No 3 batter for a long period of time.”

While there has been plenty of focus on the composition of the Proteas’ batting line-up for the WTC Final, Amla believes the key to lifting the ICC golden mace lay with the bowling unit.

“The team is a still young team, with a young batting unit, but to win Test matches, and Test championships based on your bowling,” he said.

“All great teams have a great bowling attack. And fortunately there are some quality bowlers in the South African team that led to them being here. KG (Kagiso Rabada) is amazing, Keshav (Maharaj) brilliant.

“Marco Jansen picks up wickets galore and the other guys have chipped in as well. Dane Paterson has also done so well for the South African team as well. So, its the bowling unit that wins you the Cup at the end of the day.”