“The only difference between him and Sachin is that, Sachin didn’t click as a Captain while Ponting did.”

I have no other go that I can take this as your view and leave as it is.

Again in my view, Tendulkar should not be compared with Ponting.

Tendulkar after playing 20 long years, around 17th year he found his prime time missing. One should have played this long to be compared with Sachin.

Even when in out of prime, Sachin scored centuries. Let us wait and watch whether Ponting could do the following:

1. Staying that long fit and playing for Australia
2. Scoring runs when not in prime form

Then we will start comparing him with Ponting. To me again, stressing, he cannot come into the list of following players:

Richards
Lara
Tendulkar
Mark Waugh

Welcome to my blog.

I totally agree that Ponting 99% of the times dominates the bowlers. He is a complete cricketer, just like Sachin Tendulkar, which can be seen in his authoritative batting, range of strokes, running between the wickets, concentration, ability to make high scores and then fielding.

The only difference between him and Sachin is that, Sachin didn’t click as a Captain while Ponting did.

But then, we have not seen Sachin leading the team with Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Mathew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist and Justin Langer in his side!

So I discount Ponting as a Captain but rate him very high as a batsman.

You have pointed out the recently concluded test match innings by Ponting. Even I got the opportunity after a long time to watch a match played at Australian ground with the exciting commentary team. As you said, Ponting is one of those gifted players who is dashing and at the same time neat and who does not take much time to settle down at the crease. He was not in his elements, I believe and could see the never seen body language (down) throughout the innings.

Especially in the second innings, having Brett Lee or Johnson at the other end, it was not the same Ponting that I have seen before. I am sure and agree that defeats would have had its role in his mind. But we don’t give same judgement to Lara or Tendulkar or Dravid while captaining.

In a line-up that Australia had 2 years back both in batting and bowling, I am sure any batsmen would have batted that well (please note that Clarke is batting same way Ponting has been doing). Also adding more cushion is the Australian cricket board and fans. My humble view is that Ponting is one of the finest batsmen. But he has never been on par with all time greats. Down the line we will see Clarke crossing 30 centuries in test cricket.

We speak 10 years of cricket as big thing while we tend to forget a man who is playing at 20th year. Even if we reduce 5 years as out of form phase, still we are left with amazing 15 years of power cricket.

He is certainly dominating at the crease but cannot agree that he is the best.

I think in terms of authority when at the batting crease, and sheer pace at which he was scoring runs, added to the burden of captaincy, Ricky Ponting must rank head and shoulders above Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis.

One thing which can be held against is that he never had to play the Aussie bowling which was top class with Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne. But, this should be looked against the background he having to bat in sportive wickets and bowler friendly weather conditions in Australia, England, South Africa and New Zealand. That is not the case for atleast 50% of the matches played by Rahul Dravid.