Also, don't carry on with me the argument you were carrying with bagapath because my point of regarding Sachin better than Ponting is different. The reasons I think Sachin is better than Ponting are not the same as what bagapath's reasons are. My points are (as I mentioned already):
Then you should mention as such, without rudely jumping in and pointing fingers. I was arguing with bagapath, you say I'm wrong, so you must be talking about my argument with bagapath so I relate all arguments to that.
1. Sachin is playing test cricket for 20 years against Ponting's 14 years...which is a big difference. (you'll only understand the difference after Ponting plays for 6 more years)
That's all fine and dandy, but if you still take the first 14 years of his career and compare it to Ponting's 14 his record is inferior. The difference between Sachin's records between the two polarised parts of his career are that his pummeling of the average side has lessened. He still pretty much held the same record against the same teams he had trouble to begin with - in Pakistan's case, improved it a bit.
The measure of aggregate performance is not important. The average, the ratio is important. After you have a large enough sample size, it's not really that relevant anymore - unless the person with the longer career has the same record as the one with a shorter career, which in that case questions of longevity need to be asked.
In Ponting's case, he's played 6 years less than Tendulkar, as you mention, and is in striking distance of all his records. That itself is amazing.
2. Ponting never had to face bowlers like McGrath, Warne, Gillespie and Clark in test cricket.
It's of little importance because Ricky was simply God in SS and from memory didn't have trouble meeting those bowlers domestically. Furthermore, he beat bowlers of the same standard and had undeniable success. So as a question of ability, it's not that important because there shouldn't be a question. If you mean that they would have kept his run scoring in check more, well ok, but what does that prove? That his average would be slightly lower?
3. Still Sachin's overall record is comparable to Ponting's (yes, slightly inferior).
Kudos to you for saying that. Although IMO it's more than slightly.
Yes, I think highly of Ponting as a batsman...He is definitely comparable to Sachin...But I consider him slightly (very slightly) inferior to Sachin...As I said earlier, if Ponting continues with this stat for another 3 years or so (and Sachin does almost nothing after this point) then yes, I shall admit Ponting>Sachin...But till now, Ponting is slightly (again, very) below Sachin in my book.
My question to that is...what must he do to be better? His record is already more complete than Sachin. He scores runs (which remember what batting is about) in more places, at a higher rate and faster rate, in all innings, against the best bowlers better than Tendulkar...yet he can't catch him STILL?
What must he do? Forgive me, but it seems almost petty that people won't give him his dues. What does it prove if he keeps the same scoring level for another 3 years? Tendulkar himself couldn't do what Ponting did for his first 14 years Why does Ponting have to go an even extra mile to satisfy you?