Ponting can't play spin if his life depended on it

[Shehezaada]

Into all kinds of awkward positions against Muralidaran. Also looked very much out of sorts on the turning pitches in India in the one day series. Not sure how much the Aussie pitches will turn in the winter, but if they do, then Kumble will be a key man to get rid of Ponting. Add Hussey to the list as he seemed pretty flummoxed by Bhajji in the DLF cup in Malaysia. The true test for these players both will be the tour to India. Can Ponting prove that he is an all time great by getting rid of the stigma that has plagued him since his debut? That of his inability to play quality spin bowling on turning tracks?

[bharat297]

You are kidding right ... the guy has mauled muralitharan to all corners of australia in the past ... nowadays the guy does not have trouble against any types of bowlers really.

[Shehezaada]

You are kidding right ... the guy has mauled muralitharan to all corners of australia in the past ... nowadays the guy does not have trouble against any types of bowlers really.

really? and what about his average in India? did u see his innings yesterday? patchy at best against murali, and finally fell to a brilliant doosra

[Cricketics]

he is not that bad a player against spinners.. surely harbhajan has made him bunny in 01 series but guy has improved over the period of time.. specially after 03 world cup, he has matured as a player

[bharat297]

The only time Ponting has done bad against spin are on extremely dusty decks where the ball spins square, where many other batsman also do badly (for example, in Mumbai). He didnt play that great against Murali 2 days ago but he is responsible (well half responsible) for Murali's worst figures in ODIs. He absolutely creamed Harbhajan during both the world cup final, and the first game of the 2003/04 tour. On a neutral deck, Id back Ponting over any spinner in world cricket at the moment.

[Guest BossBhai]

-- Removed on request of the user --

[Chandan]

The only time Ponting has done bad against spin are on extremely dusty decks where the ball spins square' date=' where many other batsman also do badly (for example, in Mumbai). He didnt play that great against Murali 2 days ago but he is responsible (well half responsible) for [b']Murali's worst figures in ODIs. He absolutely creamed Harbhajan during both the world cup final, and the first game of the 2003/04 tour. On a neutral deck, Id back Ponting over any spinner in world cricket at the moment.

Bharat, Tests and ODIs are completely different forms where spinners have to bowl very differently. If an off break to right handers turn more, it'll be a wide. So they have to control turn. Add to that the limit to bowling quota, different field positions and most importantly the white ball! We just can't say that the player is brilliant against spinners even if he has done well against them in ODIs.

[bharat297]

^ What the hell? ... in the opening post he made reference to 2 or 3 different ODI matches ... in either case I would still back Ponting over any spinner in the world today in Tests too.

[MundaPakistani]

I agree that he isn't a great player of spin but that should be seen as a compliment. Why? because even after being an average player of spin he is still good enough to average higher than any contemporary cricketer.

[bharat297]

^ I never thought of it that way ... hehe . But I dont think he is as bad a player of spin as this thread suggests.

[Shehezaada]

well ponting versus murali here again...let's see how he does...benchod

[Sachinism]

he's probably just having difficulties recently, i've seen him destroy spinners