10 September,2009 10:23 AM IST | | AFP
Cameron White accepts he'll have to cede the No 3 berth back to Australia captain Ricky Ponting despite scoring his maiden one-day international (ODI) century in the position.
White's 105 saw Australia to a six-wicket win over England in the third ODI at the Rose Bowl on Wednesday as the world champions went 3-0 up in the seven-match series.
Ponting looked on from the pavilion, having only recently arrived back in England after taking a break following Australia's 2-1 Ashes Test series loss.
One of the world's leading batsmen, Ponting is set to return in his favoured position for the fourth one-dayer at Lord's on Saturday where another Australia win would secure a series victory.
White, who only made his maiden fifty at this level in Friday's series opening four-run success at the Oval, even suggested he would understand if, in the unlikely event, he was dropped rather than demoted this weekend.
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"I understand Ricky will come back and bat three," White told reporters at the Rose Bowl after stumps.
"It was just until Ricky got back no matter if I got three ducks or scored some runs," White, who first came to prominence as a leg-spinner and then a middle-order batsman, said of his latest role.
"He's the best player in the world."
Asked if there was a case for not changing a winning side and so keeping Ponting on the sidelines, White immediately replied: "No."
Reflecting on his stint so far at No 3, White said: "I've really enjoyed the opportunity, so we'll see what happens on Saturday when we get to Lord's.
"If the selectors want to keep the middle order the same I guess there's not much I can really do about that," he added.
"I guess I've put a good case forward to say I can bat anywhere in the order for Australia," said the 26-year-old Victorian, who didn't feature in the Ashes, after his 32nd ODI.
"If it means I'm sent back down to No 7 I don't really mind. I'm just happy to be batting for Australia."
White, who has batted higher up for his state and English county Somerset, said: "I didn't really know where I was batting when I got here, I didn't even know Rick was coming home to be honest.
"Tim Nielsen (the Australia coach) said there was a good chance I'd be batting somewhere high up the order, he said to prepare for that and I did.
"It was probably a day or two before the first game I found out I was batting at No.3. I knew it was going to be a good challenge and I'm glad I took it on.
"It was nice to play that role, give myself a bit of time to assess the conditions and just play, rather than coming in and having to score straight away," White, dropped on 92 on Wednesday and also the beneficiary of two missed run-out chances, explained.
White's century took 116 balls with a six and nine fours and the only downside was that he was out before Australia passed the winning post.
Together with stand-in skipper Michael Clarke (52), White shared a decisive stand of 143 after Australia had been 52 for two.
Australia, chasing 229 to win, won with nine balls to spare. They finished on 230 for four under the floodlights after holding England, who won the toss, to 228 for nine.
For England's Ashes-winning captain Andrew Strauss, who top-scored for the hosts with 63, it was a familiar experience as his leading batsmen failed to fire as a unit for the third time in as many matches.
"It's feeling a bit like Groundhog Day with the batting, to be honest," said Strauss. "I am as culpable as anyone. I'm batting really well and when you're batting really well you need to make hay."
But Strauss insisted England hadn't relaxed after regaining the Ashes.
"I would argue that's not the case. We have five or six guys that played in the Ashes but that means we have five or six that didn't play in it.
"We haven't played well enough, clearly, but I don't think it's for lack of trying," the left-handed opener added.
