Ricky Ponting turns 50 today.Best Aussie batsman after Bradman?

[Harsh Thakor]

For a short period, it looked as though Ricky Ponting was heading towards breaking all the important batting records, with his phenomenal consistency in one phase. Arguably after 2004 for periods, Ponting was the best batsman in the world. Ponting was one of the chief architects of Australia turning into one of the best 3 cricketing teams of all time. Possibly, no Australian batsmen more resembled the great Vivian Richards, as much as Ponting. On his day he virtually scaled Everest, in terms of sheer domination of bowling. At his best .in his era, no batsman was as explosive and clinical at the same time. No Australian batsmen played a more stellar role, in Australia ruling the cricket world.

 

Ricky Ponting is a strong candidate for the best Australian batsmen after Don Bradman, and the best cricketer of his time. Still he did not excel in as diverse conditions as Stalwarts like Alan Border and Steve Waugh. With a gun on my head, I would place Ponting as the 4^th best Australian batsmen of all, after Don Bradman, Greg Chappell.and Alan Border. Facing express pace, possibly Ponting was the best of all Australian batsmen and amongst the top half dozen batsmen of all. He did not champion the seaming English tops or turning subcontinent strip nor weathered a crisis countless time as Border and Waugh shouldered. Ponting also did not face as lethal express pace bowling as Greg Chappell. With a gun on my head, I would place Ponting as the 4^th best Australian batsmen of all, after Don Bradman, Greg Chappell.and Alan Border.

Statistically, Ponting would rank amongst the best dozen batsmen ever if not in the best 10. Where Ponting fell below the greats like Tendulkar, Lara or Viv Richards, was his record overseas, and on turning tracks in the subcontinent or against the moving ball in England. Ponting also had an advantage of representing one of the strongest teams ever, and thus was not tested sufficiently in a crisis.

30 of his centuries were scored in winning causes in which he averaged 59. 46., where he scored 9157 runs.

At one down position Ponting averaged 56. 27, scoring 9904 runs and scoring 32 centuries. , surpassing even great Viv Richards ,statistically.

As a skipper Ponting flourished as a batsman, averaging 51.51.

In peak era from 2001-2007   Ponting aggregated 6501 runs at an average of 71.43, scoring 25 centuries, in 62 tests. In his 100^th test at no 3 he averaged 72.72. From January 1999 to December 2006, Ponting averaged 65.43, aggregating 8114 runs, in 87 tests. This was better than Lara and Tendulkar. His average declined in his last 58 tests where he averaged 40. 83, scoring 4083 runs.

 

What prevented Ponting from carving a place on par with Tendulkar and Lara, was his inability to flourish at the closing stages of his career. Had he sustained the temp from 1999 to 2006, he may have become the most successful test batsmen ever. Even if statistically on par, Ponting ‘s batting did not have the aesthetic essence or flair. of Lara or Tendulkar. Ponting also was never successful on Indian tracks, which caused the demise of his side in 2008-09 and 2009-10, in India.

Edited December 19, 2024 by Harsh Thakor

[Serpico]

I guess he was best Aussie since Bradman in his era, until Steve Smith debuted 

[Gollum]

Smith, Greg Chappell easily better. Arguably Border and Steve Waugh as well. 

[Chakdephatte]

Bradman was a test specialist. 

 

And when you compare only on the basis of tests only, there are quite a few names ahead of Ponting. 

[putrevus]

His peak was unparallel.For five or six years, he was the best batsman in the world.There was no one better than him , his twin 100s in his 100th test is proof of his greatness during his peak.  He was a match winner.

 

As a captain he led from the front.He was a prick when it came to behaviour but he was not paid to be choir boy.He was paid to win and he won more than any other player.

 

How many times India won in Australia during Sachin's Era. Why should Ponting being measured with different yard stick. He had his  issues in India but that does not take away from his overall greatness.Sachin scored solitary hundred on flat pitches in Pakistan.It does not take away from his greatness.

 

Smith is a better test batsman than Ponting but overall Ponting was better batsman.Greg Chappell should be in the mix for next best batsman after Bradman.

 

Border or Steve Waugh are not in Ponting's class as batsman. They were more defensive batsman.

Edited December 19, 2024 by putrevus

[cricspirit]

Why there is no choice for none of the above on these polls. Find most of these polls having choices that do not apply for me.

 

 

[Strangering]

He filled up the trophy cabinet. I think that gives him an edge over most (if not all). Scoring clutch centuries where other batsmen struggle to cross double digits. Those 8 sixes in 2003 world cup final is etched in my memory. 

[Ultimate_Game]

1. Bradman

2a. Steve Smith

2b. Ponting

3. Greg Chappell

 

Tome both Ponting and Steve Smith are pretty close together. Probably Smith edges it but I wouldn't mind Ponting in the team. Both Border and Steve Waugh were a notch below. Border was known more for bringing the Aussies back from the low of late 70s and early 80s post Packer era. And Steve Waugh was better at bloody mindedness in Tests than being a great batter, and taking "mental disintegration" to new levels.

[The Hound]

Michaelangelo Hussey would've been in the same league if they made him debut at the right time. 

[BacktoCricaddict]

I have two enduring memories of this guy.

 

(1) A for A-hole:

 

 

 

 

(2) B for Bunny:

 

 

Edited December 20, 2024 by BacktoCricaddict

[First class]

2nd best Australian after Bradman , could have played 2 years more, easily . 

[tapandrun]

Ponting was arguably the best batter and a top captain and amongst the top fielders.

He was top batter in ODI and test cricket, won his team multiple ICC titles was top test team for a v.long time. 

 

Under ponting Aus were nearly undefinable at home or away, they were miles a head of other. Aus was super-team during his era.

To captain and be respected by the team he had is commendable, one has to be on top on their own game when they are leading such a team, where every1 was a genuine great of the game.  

 

[jf1gp_1]

Best Aussie batsman I have seen

[Vijy]

Bradman followed by a big gap, and then Smith next. Greg is the third, followed by Punter

 

Punter was decidedly weak vs spin, and that too while playing mostly in an era (the 2000s) where most SC tracks did not turn anywhere as much as they did in 90s or 2010s onward.