Proteas Test selection: Who will solve South Africa’s No 3 batting headache?

South Africa 'A' captain Marques Ackerman and teammate Jordan Hermann.

For nearly a decade, the Proteas' No 3 Test batting spot has been a poisoned chalice.

Since the legendary Hashim Amla vacated the crease, it has been a revolving door of hopefuls, stopgaps and fleeting successes. Coach Shukri Conrad had earmarked Tristan Stubbs for the crucial position before pulling a rabbit out of the hat with all-rounder Wiaan Mulder for the World Test Championship final at Lord’s last year.

Although Mulder smashed a record-breaking 367 not out at first drop against Zimbabwe in the follow-up series, Stubbs was back at No 3 for the India series, striking a crucial 94 in the second Test in Guwahati to wrap up the clean sweep.

But ahead of a crucial Test season — where the World Test Champions will face the might of Australia, England and Bangladesh at home — the jury is still out as to who will walk out at number three this summer.