Ricky Ponting the best in the world? It's all spin - ask Murali!

The inaccuracies in this article are astounding! You didn't manage to get one statistic right. Let me help: Average: 59.43. Hundreds: 33. Scores against Sri Lanka in last series: 56, 31, 53 not out (Avg 70) The only thing of substance in this article is that Ponting has stuggled badly in India in the past. Wait and see until he gets another chance against India in India as he was injured last time round before deciding that he has a clear weakness. Ponting didn't play much spin until he was playing international cricket. If you have watched him since then, he learnt VERY quickly as has smashed the best bowlers in the world around the park (including Murali and Warne). Ponting has been the best bastman in the world for the past 4 years, and the statistics clearly back that up. If you want someone to win a game for you or to be there in the toughest conditions, then he's the man. Who else is there to compare with at the moment?

He might have his difficulties in facing spin. But never had he struggled against spinners in an entire series. In the first couple of matches in a new series he might struggle a bit against the tweakers of the opposition. But by the time the side reaches the finals he would have mastered how to deal them. It is a routine that could be associated with Punter for the past so many years.

I think all theis is rubbish Ricky is the best batsman in world, he has prooved that he can play spin. He has developed the technique to play spinners over the years and handles Murali or other spinners well

I'm not surprised to read anything like this at all! Sounds like your typical Aussie hater and this is coming from a West Indian BTW. Who's going to argue with anyone who says that Ponting, Lee and Symonds are the best in their specialties(barring Symonds who's an allronder). Looking at the rest of the world, I can't see anyone else with the same skill or professionalism as these men and that's why Australia are the best. Obviously they're the best for a reason and that's because they've got players who are better than everyone else. A bit of advice man: Don't hate them; Appreciate them.

I would say it is really accurate. U got all the statistics perfect about Ponting and his spin. Channel 9 commentators always sing praise about their team and they continue doing that. There are many players like Sangakarra, Pietersen who are as good as Ricky

Hi rajan Tks for accepting the truth Murali is great and Ponting is not a complete batsman. Hats off to your article, keep writing.

Comment about ponter is a good joke. He is a good captain always leading from the front, despite spitting in his hand regularly. Every player is great from their stand point. Murali in one area and ponting in another. Let them play the game cricket

The difference between Ponting and a batsman like Lara is that Ponting seldom gets to play under pressure. He has enough backing in terms of fellow batsmen and bowlers who do their jobs near to perfection. There is a guarantee that even if he fails, the rest of the team will get through. It is always the opposition teams which struggle. Under this condition, it is not surprising that Ponting is excelling the way he is. I do not want to discredit him. But with less burden on his shoulders, he has more room to do well. This is not a privilege that someone like Dravid, Tendulkar, Sangakkara or Lara have. It will be interesting to see how Ponting does with a huge burden on his shoulders.

i somehow agree to the points made. see this all about how u market ur goods and create hype and if credit goes to punter and others u spoke about it should also go to the channel time who help create such hype. but one thing no one can deny that ponting is too good a player.

Interesting, if not especially accurate summation. Ponting is the No.1 batsman for both test and ODI cricket according to ICC rankings, not just parochial Aussies. I don't think that anyone ever said that Brett Lee is the best bowler in the world, but if there is a better fieldsman on the planet than Symonds then please point him out. As for Punter, 9500 runs at 59 is a pretty good record. He may not be the best in the World, but I'm glad he's on our side. I'd be interested in who you think is the best, and please don't say Sachin. He may have been the best once, but no more. An important note is that Punter has most of his runs against top line teams. Can Murali say the same about his wickets (nearly a quarter against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh). Cheers.

It is clear that Indians don't like any batsman from other countries being the best in the world from your article.It is flawed to the core.The avg of 12 in tests in India is only in 8 tests of which 2 tests are one-off tests for Ponting and 7 are before 2002.He has emerged and grown as a batsman much more since then.The never ending purple patch began after the disastrous 2001 tour for him.Also keep in mind that he played in No.6 in the 2001 series. He is the best performer of the world at the moment in both forms of the game.Take a look at his WC graph which is ever increasing since 1996.Some people are commenting about the fact that he is not under pressure due to his teammates. Indian batting also boasts of big names and stars than Aussie lineup. Then why Tendulkar and Dravid are referred to being under pressure.

If Tendulkar is under pressure id hate to imagine what Lara was feeling going out to bat.

i think that it is entirely inappropriate for us to take away the plaudits from ricky who has amassed his runs against the second best teams in the world (oz is the best) and has risen to the occassion whenever the team has wanted him the most. ricky may not be the best player of spin but neither is he the worst. as for only the oz media hailing him as the best, its a truth few other countries are willing to acknowledge. we love to hate the best team in the world and so is the case with hating the best batsman in the world. ponting is the best as stats clearly indicate. and he has played under pressure and performed admirably well... read Ashes 2006. he was adjudged man of the series. i cant imagine a tendulkar or a lara leading (actually leading with bat and mind) their team to such a monumental victory after being hit by a wave of malicious criticism.