Ponting deserving of respect

Whilst former England opener Geoff Boycott in this article that Ponting is not in the same class as legends such as Lara or Tendulkar, it does not mean he is not entitled to the same respect as the previous pair.

Boycott’s major reason for not including him in the same category was the other pair’s charisma whilst batting. Lara, the flamboyant calypso supremo, with his exaggerated backlift and ability to find gaps no one else can; and Tendulkar, the technical master who Bradman believed most resembled himself.

In terms of run scoring, the difference in statistics is in Ponting’s favour; he has scored heavily from the tricky number 3 position in the last 6 years and averages 58.48 after his dismissal for 18 in the current test. Tendulkar, by stat comparison, averages 55.31, Lara a ‘mere’ 52.88.

I do agree with Boycott on the assessment that Sachin and Brian are the more adored cricketers, particularly because their batting is generally the more charming and entertaining. Ponting, as an Australian, is generally not popular in wider circles. But given the company he is in the 10,000 run club, there is no doubt he is a superior batsman to Rahul Dravid, and perhaps Steve Waugh.

There other major factor is that Ponting never had to endure facing his magnificent teammates, notably McGrath and Warne, who terrorized opponents across the world for 15 years. Lara was a famous bunny of McGrath, having been dismissed 15 and only averaging 41.40 against the beanpole. Tendulkar also suffered against McGrath, only averaging 22.16.

How would Ponting have succeeded? There can be no doubt he would have struggled with McGrath, whose nagging line would have exposed his flaw at pushing hard at the ball, along with his weakness against the ball moving into the pad. I can see Ponting doing well against Warne, as Ponting seems more uncomfortable against offspin than legspin, but it would be a fascinating contest.

The straight bat is that Ponting is a great test batsman and deserves to be accorded respect, maybe not in the same stature of a Lara, Tendulkar, Viv or Greg Chappell, but he is the best in the world currently, and not far off being the best Australian batsman after Bradman.