Ponting is definitly top class, one of the best batsmen on the planet, but here are some stats between Tendulkar and Ponting....and deciding who's better....First I'll compare test matches...
TEST MATCH CRICKET:
Ricky Ponting:
Age: 33
Matches: 112
Runs: 9508
Highest Score: 257
Average: 59.42
Strike Rate: 58.89
100's: 33
50's: 38
Sachin Tendulkar:
Age: 34
Matches: 142
Runs: 11,289
Highest Score: 248
Average: 55.06
Strike Rate: 61.24
100's: 37
50's: 47
Pretty outstanding numbers from both batsmen, I'm sure we can all agree to that!
Now then, Tendulkar is one year older than ponting, and has played in 30 more test matches, and 41 more innings times than Ponting, but has 1781 more runs. Their averages differ by 4.36, So Ponting scores about 4 more runs than Tendulkar per test match...Not a great difference by anymeans.
Sachin has 4 more centuries, and 9 more half-centuries, and their higest scores are nearly identical, 257 for ponting, versus 248 for Tendulkar.
Both players have had slow starts to their career, but while Ponting has been on the incline as a batsmen for the last 3-4 years, Tendulkar has been on a very slight decline. As they are only a year apart in age, I am guessing that both will finish their careers around the same time....Tendulkar will probably retire before Ricky.
Their numbers are very similar and at the end of their careers, Ponting will definitly have a better average, but as far as who will score more centuries, have more runs is up in the air...Stats suggest that Ponting will better tendulkar, but due to their age, their retierment will be approaching near the same time, so its hard to tell who will have more runs, and centuries as Tendulkar is still a class act even at this age and will continue to score runs...
Now the intangables that dont have anything to do with stats, yet are very important, and must be considered.....Imagine carrying the entire team on your back for most your international carrer, time in and time out, comming into a huge crisis situation and bailing your team out, playing for a country that if you dont do well all the time, the fans turn on you in a split second. This has been Tendulkar's life ever since he entered international cricket as a 16 year old. Yes folks, 16!! Sachin has had by far, the most pressure on him than any other batsmen in the world. He is loved more than all the batsmen to ever play the game, put together...His entire country not expects, but demands him to score big every time he comes out to bat. He has time in, and time out, come into bat for India when other Indian batsmen are getting destroyed by the opposition...and he has countlessely bailed his country out. Tendulkar also grew up facing bowlers who were far worse then their australian, pakistani, southafrican, english, west indian counterparts, and he playted on flat pitches that sutied the batsmen...Where as Ponting, from a young age has faced exceelent bowling, and has batting on lively bouncy, pacy pitches....Tendulkar used his brilliance and adapted to that, and learnt how to score on these types of pitches, as he had never seen anything like it....he has also done very well versus Australia. He has been on top of every one of his opponents. All This can show you the true class he possesses.
In this aspect, Ponting has not even an iota of the pressure on him that Tendulkar has, he has always had the best team sourrounding him, and the best playes sourrounding him so he can ease into his role.
What I find unbelievable is that with all this pressure on him, Tendulkar has still managed to become one of the best batsmen that ever lived. Just try to imagine folks....I played a high level of american football here in Canada, and I can tell you, that playing under pressure is compltely different than when not....I have failed playing under pressure, and alot of people fail under pressure....Tendulkar on the other hand has played like its not even affected him. He has carried his country on his back, for all his carrer, and has had to perform or fans would be after his head...not only has he done this, he has done it better than any sportsman ever. PERIOD. His character is unmatched.
I can almost guarantee, that even if Ponting had to go through half the circumstances and pressure that Tendulkar had to go through, his numbers would not even be close to what they are right now....We can never know, but as an athelete I know what playing under pressure can do to you....I've seen it through my life.
that my friends is why I regard Tendulkar to be a greater batsmen than Ponting.....
Now to oneday internationals.....
ODI CRICKET
Ricky Ponting:
matches: 288, innings: 279
runs: 10835
Highest score: 164
Average: 44.40
Strike rate: 80.68
100's: 25
50's: 63
Sachin Tendulkar:
matches: 407, innings: 397
runs: 15,962
Highest score: 186
Average: 44.33
Strike rate: 85.50
100's: 41
50's: 87
It's not even close Tendulkar dominates ponting in ever category, and their averages are nearly identical. Tendulkar has over 5000 more runs, he has a better strike rate, 16 more hundreds and, and 24 more 50's. I know Tendulkar has played alot more than Ponting, but if tendular retired today, and ricky played as many matches as him, he still wouldnt have the stats to match, as ricky is 33, and has reached his prime, by the time he would be done, tendulkar would better him in every aspect in ODI's.
Also read the circumstances that i wrote above...they apply to ODI's as well!
My fellow members at planetcricket, this has taken me a long time to write, so please read my post completely and understand it before you decide to bash on my ideologies. I thorughly explained why I believe that Tendulkar has been a better batsmen than Ponting, so i hope to see some facts and ideas on your part to try and convince me otherwise...
I take everything into account when deciding who's better and I've concluded that Tendulkar is a better batsman than Ponting.
Thankyou for your time,
Zreh
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