Eight stars are in the frame to solve Aussie’s No.3 dilemma. One bolter has emerged from the pack

Few positions in Australia's Test batting order have come under greater scrutiny in recent times than No.3, the home of Marnus Labuschagne for the best part of seven years.

But with another home summer fast approaching, the pressure on the Queensland star has arguably hit its apex, as a growing list of contenders mount their cases to take his place at first drop.

Having gone 49 Test innings without a century, Labuschagne looks increasingly destined for a stint back at domestic level, with his prolonged form slump becoming impossible for selectors to ignore.

Foxsports.com.au analyses the eight likeliest options to replace Labuschagne at first drop against New Zealand this summer, including one bolter yet to feature at international level.

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KURTIS PATTERSON

Age: 33
Test matches: 2
2025/26 Sheffield Shield record: 619 runs at 36.41 | Two hundreds, two fifties | High score of 173*
2026/27 Sheffield Shield record: 219 runs at 43.8 | One hundred, one fifty | High score of 122

No person in men's Test cricket history averages more than Kurtis Patterson (144), and after nearly eight years away from Australia's international set up, the New South Wales veteran looks primed for a recall. The left-hander made his international debut in a two-test series against Sri Lanka back in January of 2019, and went large in his second Test with an unbeaten 114 at Manuka Oval in Canberra. However, the reason Patterson got opportunity at the top level in the first place ended up forcing his omission for the very next Test series - the 2019 Ashes in England. The return of suspended trio David Warner, Steve Smith and, temporarily, Cameron Bancroft, squeezed him out of the squad entirely and on the outer since.

In March of 2023, Patterson found himself dropped from NSW's Shield side altogether despite leading the side after a tough 2022/23 domestic season. His next 12 months were again lean, but since the start of the 2024/25 season, the St. George's product has averaged 45.17 in the Sheffield Shield and made four hundreds. Crucially, Patterson bats at first drop for NSW; a key point that can't be said for most other contenders either inside Australia's Test squad who went to South Africa, or are playing Sheffield Shield. With a mature temperament and a proven ability to fight through adversity, Patterson very much feels like the right fit at No.3 for a team edging closer towards transition. Scores of 14 and 9 in NSW's last outing against Tasmania will sting a little, but he still feels front of the queue to replace Labuschagne at this stage.

NATHAN MCSWEENEY

Age: 27
Test matches: 3
2025/26 Sheffield Shield record: 477 runs at 28.05 | One hundred, two fifties | High score of 103
2026/27 Sheffield Shield record: 122 runs at 30.5 | Two fifties | High score of 66

South Australia's skipper was rightly rewarded with a Test debut in late 2024, but it came with the major caveat of batting out of position and against the new ball. Thrust into the opening role, McSweeney was given three Tests but was in the end handed the ultimate baptism of fire against Jasprit Bumrah. He was only able to pass 10 once in six innings up top, with a very handy 39 made mostly under lights against the pink ball in Adelaide. His eventual omission opened the door for Sam Konstas on Boxing Day, where the then-19-year-old produced a Boxing Day spectacle. McSweeney did find himself on the plane and in the squad for Australia's tour of Sri Lanka a month after getting axed, but he didn't feature again.

The right-hander has five Sheffield Shield centuries and 10 fifties from his last three-and-a-bit seasons, but unfortunately didn't go large for South Australia in their most recent outing against Queensland - scoring 66 in the second dig after missing out in the first innings. Selectors have invested in McSweeney before and will almost certainly do so again at some stage in the near future, but it remains up in the air if his international recall will come just yet. His side's four-day duel with New South Wales on November 11 looms as a massive shootout between he, Kurtis Patterson and Sam Konstas for the likely No.3 vacancy.

SAM KONSTAS

Age: 21
Test matches: 5
2025/26 Sheffield Shield record: 660 runs at 33 | One hundred, two fifties | High score of 116
2026/27 Sheffield Shield record: 229 runs at 76.33 | One hundred, one fifty | High score of 151*

Australia's Test wunderkind has had to earn his way back into national calculations, and after a lean period in the red-ball format last season, Konstas is arguably the most in-form of the Sheffield Shield contenders. His remarkable rise into the international set-up is well-documented, having announced himself with a blistering 60 on Boxing Day against Jasprit Bumrah and company at the MCG. His unconventional scoring methods against India that series had eyeballs glued to television screens, but also marked a departure from the more conventional technique that had earned him selection in the first place. Like McSweeney, Konstas was part of Australia's touring squad for Sri Lanka in early 2025, but didn't feature. He was then recalled for the West Indies tour last winter, only to score 50 runs in six innings during what proved a difficult series for batters on both sides.

Since then, Konstas has returned to domestic cricket and worked towards rediscovering his compact technique, without entirely sacrificing the aggressive instincts that made him such an exciting prospect. His early-season Shield form suggests that approach is beginning to pay dividends, and with five first-class hundreds at just 21 years of age, he clearly remains one of Australia's most intriguing long-term options at the top of the order. After a monster match against Western Australia at the WACA late last month - scoring 71 and 151* - Konstas is probably one more big red-ball score away from leading the contenders to come into the Test side. The intrigue, however, would come as to where he fits, given he's always been an opener. A role at first drop can't be ruled out entirely, but a move up for Steve Smith or down for Matthew Renshaw feels more likely, all things being equal.

JACK CLAYTON

Age: 27
Test matches: Nil.
2025/26 Sheffield Shield record: 418 runs at 38 | One hundred, two fifties | High score of 113
2026/27 Sheffield Shield record: 293 runs at 73.25 | One hundred, two fifties | High score of 104

The biggest bolter of the four domestic prospects is also the only uncapped Test player. Crucially, though, he has the most recent Sheffield Shield hundred of the quartet, having progressively come into his own at professional level. After making his first-class debut in February 2022 at 22 years of age, Clayton has become a staple of Queensland's middle order. An average of 39.03 and seven hundreds from 47 first-class matches is an impressive record, particularly given the bowler-friendly nature of Shield pitches in recent seasons.

How Clayton would fit into Australia's current set-up, however, is less straightforward and could require a reshuffle of the batting order. Typically batting at No.4 or No.5 for the Bulls, throwing the 27-year-old straight into the specialist first-drop role would carry an element of risk - as several misselection at the top of the order have shown in recent years. His consistency at domestic level, coupled with a strong start to the new Shield season, has thrust him into the selection conversation for this summer, but his relative lack of exposure at No.3 could ultimately count against him when compared with more established candidates.

AND THE MAKE-SHIFT OPTIONS INSIDE THE CURRENT AUSSIE SQUAD...

Of the 18-man squad that has just flown home from South Africa, several members could be thrust into a makeshift No.3. As previously mentioned, it's a move fraught with danger and uncertainty, but selectors certainly have a history of selecting who they believe are the best six batters in the country, and not necessarily the six best batters best suited for a position.

Wicketkeeper-bat Josh Inglis is fresh off his second Test ton batting at number five for Australia, but has very little recent experience at first drop for Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield. The 31-year-old briefly batted there while Shaun Marsh was playing ODI cricket back in 2019, but he's always been seen as a middle-order selection when not behind the stumps.

His WACA teammate Cooper Connolly has batted at first drop in his last six ODI matches for Australia for decent returns, and has also done so in the red-ball format at state level; albeit not a whole lot. There were murmurs that he could have replaced Labuschagne in the role ahead of the first Test in South Africa, but his only opportunity came in the series finale at No.7 with scores of 29 and 0. Connolly's English counterpart Jacob Bethell was thrown into the number three role at Test level despite not scoring a first-class hundred, but it ultimately paid dividends last Ashes with a breathtaking 154 at the SCG. Somewhat ironically, it remains Bethell's only professional red-ball hundred. Connolly does have an international white-ball hundred opening in a 50-over game against Sri Lanka, but there would certainly be an element of hesitation to have him bat at number three without a first-class ton.

Steve Smith has been encouraged by former teammate and Australian great David Warner to bat first drop if required, telling Fox Cricket during the third Test in South Africa: "Smithy's a world-class player … there's no reason why he can't go up there and let the rest of them settle who's going to be there (at four) long-term." While the logic is certainly there, Smith has been very comfortable batting in his usual position since his cameo as an opener back in early 2024.

A fourth and final option could be Matt Renshaw being moved again in the batting order, however given the country's revolving door with openers in recent years, there's an argument it would just be putting paper over the cracks if the left-handed Queenslander was to slide down one position. The only instance that would realistically eventuate though, would be if Sam Konstas was brought back into the senior side.