Best Since Bradman?

[Tommy Smith]

Is Ricky Ponting Australia's best batsman since Bradman?

 

[waltzing Meninga]

I think so. He has reached the same number of test tonnes as Allan Border (who would be the 3rd best) in 56 less test matches. The last few years he has been un-stoppable.

 

[TheParraboy]

if he isnt now, he definately will be by the end of his career
provided he doesnt get a career threatening injury

 

[JoeysWheelchair05]

Where is Hayden in this poll? He is Australia's best since Bradman.


That said, Ponting's career has longer left in it than Hayden.

 

[willvillain]

I'm a huge fan of AB to be honest, but Ponting is in exceptional form and still has 4+ years to go.

 

[El Diablo]

Ab.

 

[Rammo]

Where is Hayden in this poll? He is Australia's best since Bradman.

Making a statement like that shows how little, if anything you know about the game.

To rate Hayden higher than Ponting, Waugh or Border is absolute rubbish.

 

[Red Bear]

Preferred S Waugh but i'd say Ponting would be close.

Mark Waugh could've been the best with a bit more concentration - best strokemake i've seen.

 

[Iafeta]

Ponting, a smidgeon ahead of Greg Chappell.

 

[Twizzle]

Is Ricky Ponting Australia's best batsman since Bradman?

yes Tommy, I'd say he is.

AB and Tugga are up there, but I think Punter is more naturally gifted, just like the Don was.

 

[Paj8]

yeh ponting,l why is harvey in their there has been better players that shoould be in their first

 

[waltzing Meninga]

I think Bill Lawry is worth a mention in the Poll. His career was fairly short, But averadging around 48 opening the batting, with the quality of bowlers around at that time and on much worse pitches is certainly a great record.

 

[JoeysWheelchair05]

Making a statement like that shows how little, if anything you know about the game.

To rate Hayden higher than Ponting, Waugh or Border is absolute rubbish.

What a useless reply. I doubt that you have ever seen Bradman play (other than replayed footage), so in terms of determining who is Australia's best since Bradman it would be a statistic based comparison. Just to show how little I know about the game (taken from http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/AUS/BATTING/):

Most 100's for Australia

Bradman: 29 in 80 innings

Ponting: 27 in 165 innings
Hayden: 25 in 140 innings
S Waugh: 32 in 260 innings
Border: 27 in 265 innings
G Chappell: 24 in 151 innings
Harvey: 21 in 137 innings

Hayden has the best strike rate in that comparison, S Waugh has the highest total overall.

Test average

Bradman: 99.94

Ponting: 56.71
Hayden: 53.89
S Waugh: 51.06
Border: 50.56
G Chappell: 53.86
Harvey: 48.41


1000 Runs in a calendar year:

Bradman: Once

Ponting: 3 times
Hayden: 5 times
S Waugh: 0
Border: 3 times
G Chappell: 0
Harvey: 0

Most 100's in a calendar year

Bradman: 5

Ponting: 6
Hayden: 6
S Waugh: 4
Border: 5
G Chappell: 4
Harvey: 4

HS:

Bradman: 334

Ponting: 257
Hayden: 380
S Waugh: 200
Border: 205
G Chappell: 247no
Harvey: 205

Total Runs:

Bradman: 6996 in 52 tests

Ponting: 7990 in 100 tests
Hayden: 6894 in 79 tests
S Waugh: 10 927 in 168 tests
Border: 11 174 in 156 tests
G Chappell: 7110 in 87 tests
Harvey: 6149 in 79 tests

Fastest in history (all players) to reach multiples of 1000 runs - i'll list only the highest of all the players I'm providing stats for:

1000: Bradman 3rd, Harvey 4th
2000: Bradman 1st, Harvey 11th
3000: Bradman 1st, Harvey 5th
4000: Bradman 1st, Hayden 10th, Harvey 11th
5000: Bradman 1st, Hayden 6th (Ponting 18th - first time he has featured in top 20)
6000: Bradman 1st, Ponting 9th

I could go on and on with stats, however I believe these are enough of a start to show that Hayden is well and truly up there. To say Making a statement like that shows how little, if anything you know about the game is absurd. Careful while you are wiping that egg off your face.

Steve Waugh and Border did tremendous things for Australia as captains, and they served for a long period of time during a time where Australia was struggling, hence the reason for such long careers.

 

[Cockadoodledoo]

I voted for Ponting but comparing the number of Test matches between when a guy like AB and Punter reached 26 hundreds is a little misleading given the comparitive quality of bowling attacks in the 2 eras.. The standard of Test Match bowling outside of Australia's attack is rather ordinary compared to when Border or even Chappell and to a lesser extent Waugh were playing.

 

[waltzing Meninga]

I voted for Ponting but comparing the number of Test matches between when a guy like AB and Punter reached 26 hundreds is a little misleading given the comparitive quality of bowling attacks in the 2 eras.. The standard of Test Match bowling outside of Australia's attack is rather ordinary compared to when Border or even Chappell and to a lesser extent Waugh were playing.

True to a certain extent but I think the vast difference in the number of tests to get to 26 hundreds negates the bowling differences, and I think Ponting is still better and definatley more gifted.

I honestly think it comes down to Ponting Vs Lawry. Playing on those pitches averadging 48 as an opening batsmen against one of the best era's for pace bowling is supreme.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Hayden has had an amazing career in many respects, and it astounds me that a lot of critics seem prepared to dismiss his achievements by referring to one Ashes series, and a poor start to his career. His dominance over the early part of this decade was amazing, some of the most consistent big scoring ever seen in test cricket. His ability to churn out century after century when in form is also amazing and rarely equalled in the history of test cricket. Yes, he can look ordinary at times, but overall he has had a terrific career.

 

[Mighty Tiger]

Best all round batsman has to be Punter. IMO I think he has the ability to become the most prolific run scorer in test match history, score the most centuries and lead the Australia's catching department for a player who isn't wicket keeper and thats just in test matches

Punter is a definate match winner in both forms of the game yet at the same time can make a test match appear that your watching a 1 day game

If Punter scores a 100 in the 2nd innings will he become the 1st player ever to score 100 runs in the 1st and 2nd innings of his 100th test match?

 

[waltzing Meninga]

Best all round batsman has to be Punter. IMO I think he has the ability to become the most prolific run scorer in test match history, score the most centuries and lead the Australia's catching department for a player who isn't wicket keeper and thats just in test matches

Punter is a definate match winner in both forms of the game yet at the same time can make a test match appear that your watching a 1 day game

If Punter scores a 100 in the 2nd innings will he become the 1st player ever to score 100 runs in the 1st and 2nd innings of his 100th test match?

I would say he would be the first.

Yes Punter no doubt will have to world record runs and 100's when he retires, and then I think there will be no doubt he will have been the best since Bradman.

 

[UndertakerMike]

AB. He played at a time where the Bowlers were truly great.

 

[Mighty Tiger]

AB. He played at a time where the Bowlers were truly great.

If you take that angle do you think then we should compare Punter with Richards and Lara?