Will Ponting break some of the records set by Sachin Tendulkar? Exactly one year ago, it looked quite likely. There were only about 1500 runs and 4 centuries separating them. But today, the difference is 1800 runs and 8 centuries.
Sachin will be playing much lesser test Cricket thanks to BCCI's myopic policies. So Ponting might do some catching up. But I believe Ponting should not become the highest Scorer in Test Cricket and neither should he get the maximum number of centuries, Never! But Why?
Here are the reasons!
The Rational!
Ponting simply is not in the same league as Sachin. Most of his runs have come playing for the bloodiest best batting line up in the world by miles. He came and pulverized poor bowlers already demoralized by the likes of Mark Waugh, Mark Taylor, Mathew Hayden and Justin Langer! Sachin didn't have this kind of liberty until the arrival of the Delhi Daredevils opening pair. Ponting never had to face the Australians to score his runs.
The National!
Being and Indian, I would never have an Australian break the records set by an Indian. We had Sunny Gavaskar break Don Bradman's records only to see Allan Border cross his tally of runs. Now that Sachin is sitting at the summit, I hate to see another Aussie surpass him. Least of all Ponting! He has got enormous benefits of dubious Umpiring compared to those dozens of horrendous decisions meted out to Sachin time and again.
The Sensational!
For the simple reason that Sachin Tendulkar has enthralled the largest mass of humanity over a period beyond two decades with over 30000 International runs and still counting. All of Ricky Ponting's fans put together can't fill 'The Eden Gardens' Stadium even if we offer free tickets to watch Ponting score a double hundred in a T-20 game against Bangladesh! How can a mere mortal break the records of 'The Demi-God' of Cricket? Not in this life!
The Irrational!
For all the service Ponting has done to this game of Cricket, he should be called 'Prickly Ranting'. How can anyone erase the memories of Sydney Test of the 2008 series? The scene of Ponting playing the Fourth Umpire and his 'You have no business being here' statements are there for all to watch on the You-tube!
Never seen more shameful Captain all my life. But Cricketing Gods have been too kind to Ponting and Australia for quite too long. So there should be some line drawn! Here I draw the line ||| This far and no further! No more Pointing fingers to declare opposition batsmen out and no more records for one of the worst Sportspersons of our times!
And the Emotional:
Ponting has been already over-blessed with so many World Cups and other wins. But the Greatest Cricketer of all times has been too unlucky on too many counts. So he deserves to keep all his records until he concedes some Indian can break one or two of his records. Till someone of that caliber arrives, Wait! No anointing Ponting!
No Boss, you cant deny he is talented. But it looks as though Emotion is preventing you from accepting this, :-/ so sad.
ReplyDeleteMurli, it is not about talent. Someone without talent can't score 10K+ runs in both forms of Cricket. I admire Ponting the Batsman, but not Ponting the Sportsman. He is one of the worst cheats I have ever seen in Cricket. That is not Cricket suits most of what he has done.
ReplyDeleteAnd... Sachin Tendulkar definitely is a better player than Ponting.