Ponting v Tendulkar

[frankc]

Who is the better player - we keep hearing that Tendulkar is the best player of the modern era, but how does Ponting stack up.

As a test player Ponting is right up their, if not slighty better. His test average is 58.22 (excluding current test) and he averages a century every 3.3 tests he plays, Tendulker averages 55.39 with a century every 3.7 tests.

From a first class perspective, Ponting averages 59.63, while Tendulkar is a bees diaphram in front at 59.72. Ponting averages a first class century every 3.1 matches whereas Tendulkar avergaes one every 3.8 innings. Therefore as first class players they are virtually on a par.

In one day matches, Tendulkar probably shades Ponting, there averages are 44.27 and 41.64 respectively and their century per match average is 9.3 to 13.1 respectively.

As a test and first class player I think Ponting has the edge, while as a one-day player, Tendular has the edge. Also tendulkar contributes more to the team as a bowler than Ponting does.

 

[kolchak]

Who is the better player - we keep hearing that Tendulkar is the best player of the modern era, but how does Ponting stack up.

As a test player Ponting is right up their, if not slighty better. His test average is 58.22 (excluding current test) and he averages a century every 3.3 tests he plays, Tendulker averages 55.39 with a century every 3.7 tests.

From a first class perspective, Ponting averages 59.63, while Tendulkar is a bees diaphram in front at 59.72. Ponting averages a first class century every 3.1 matches whereas Tendulkar avergaes one every 3.8 innings. Therefore as first class players they are virtually on a par.

In one day matches, Tendulkar probably shades Ponting, there averages are 44.27 and 41.64 respectively and their century per match average is 9.3 to 13.1 respectively.

As a test and first class player I think Ponting has the edge, while as a one-day player, Tendular has the edge. Also tendulkar contributes more to the team as a bowler than Ponting does.

Tendulkar is a gun but Lara is better. Averages don't mean everything. There is no way Bradman was twice as good as everyone else.

 

[Philhawk]

I wont deny the fact that I am biased and believe Tendulkar is better than Lara and Ponting.

That said, I believe the gap has been closing tremendously in the past few years and Tendulkar, who has admittedly been struggling with injuries for a little while now, needs to get back into the form that saw him spearhead the Indian team during the last World Cup.

As a captain and player, I really believe Ponting will go down as one of the best in all time. I believe that in his past 8 matches - he's scored 7 centuries?! That's unbelievable!

Perhaps the only reason I believe Tendulkar is the better player, is because he dominated from such a young age, though has 'waned' somewhat via injuries and poor form in the last few years. Ponting on the other hand is the opposite with the way he was always a talented youngster, but really never showed anything at a young age until he matured as a batsmen to start dominating at the age of 30.

It's going to always be a terrific talking point, but my heart tells me Tendulkar.

 

[frankc]

Tendulkar is a gun but Lara is better. Averages don't mean everything. There is no way Bradman was twice as good as everyone else.

Lara is a great player, but always thinks of himself and puts the team second. He also is very defensive and doesn't pursue victories hard enough. In the recent test against Pakistan, the Windies could have had a chance to win the game had they pushed a little harder early.

For mine, Ponting and Tendulkar are better players then Lara. in saying this there is a hairs breath between them all. From an Australian viewpoint, I think Ponting is our best player since Greg Chappell, however I think Border is up their due to the fact that he played alot of his career against the Windies bowling Juggernaut - he was one of the few players how played consistently well against them.

Averages are the only way to measure how a player has performed. Lara, Ponting and Tendulkar have played long enough for their averages to mean something.

Based on averages, Bradman is not twice as good as he would have had to have an average near 120. He is however, the greatest cricketer of all time. The only person who'd get close to him is Sobers becuase he was such a good bowler as well.

 

[kolchak]

Ponting & Tendulkar had the advantage of playing for good teams for their entire career. Lara's defensive capabilty acutally makes him a better batsmen.

 

[frankc]

Ponting & Tendulkar had the advantage of playing for good teams for their entire career. Lara's defensive capabilty acutally makes him a better batsmen.

I wasn't referring to his technique, more is attitude as a captain. I realise that he hasn't played is great sides, but just seems to me that he'd rather get a milestone then a victory.

Anyway, all three are great players, certainly th e top three of recent times.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

when sachin is good, he is really good, but when he is in a form slump, he is one of the worst in International cricket. Ponting at least manages to look half decent in form slumps. A better comparrison would be ponting vs lara IMO

 

[kolchak]

when sachin is good, he is really good, but when he is in a form slump, he is one of the worst in International cricket. Ponting at least manages to look half decent in form slumps. A better comparrison would be ponting vs lara IMO

Agree, Tendulkar when he's on can bat himself out of any problem (which is incredible), when Lara is on he is perfect. Would be the greatest batsmen of recent times. Before him Richards, who moved like a cat, preying on opposition attacks, and owned the wicket. Before him would be Sobers. My all time 11 would include Lara, Richards and Sobers. When Lara bats long innings 100 or 200 or 300 or 400 runs. He never looks like getting out, he can basicallly not give any chances. He will hit tonnes of 4s all along the ground and not just finding gaps but precisely going through the middle of them. If Lara had better support his average would have been heaps better (not that he has a bad average). Lara is so much more disciplined then Tendulkar. If I had a 10th of Lara's skill I would be playing for Australia. The question would be comparing Lara to Tendulkar or Ponting, for raw talent - Tendulkar, for better all round Cricket ability - Ponting.