KP Out

[morgieb]

Wow, now my prediction is looking kinda accurate.

 

[pup11]

No doubt that England are gonna miss KP, but I think given the seriousness of his injury he was never gonna last the whole series, Bell is no doubt a far inferior batsman than KP, but I won't just write him off as a joke batsman.

Yes, he had an awful time before being dropped from the English side last time around, but he is still a pretty decent batsman with a pretty solid technique, he would be really keen to revive his test career, and that determination might bring the best out of him, and he might contribute decently.

Though the other way to look at it is, he might get too nervous and uptight (like he has been before) and might just end up proving to be a walking wicket for us, or atleast that's what I'm hoping for.

 

[Richard]

Pietersen>Ponting?????

Yeah, easily - Ponting's been nothing more than a good Test batsman the last 2-and-a-half years. Makes sense, after all - most batsmen pass their peak at 33 or so. He's still good, obviously, but Pietersen is clearly better at the current time.

 

[Ikki]

Nah, even on current form, if asked, I'd take Ponting on a winner takes all match. He's simply a class above.

 

[Athlai]

Would probably still take Ponting myself.

 

[Richard]

In one match, I'd be 50:50 on them; on a series or a year, I'd have Pietersen without a backward glance.

 

[tooextracool]

Personally, I'd take M. Hussey over the 2 of them but thats just me.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Are we talking of them as 'individual' batsman or as batsman who enchance their teams positions?

 

[Richard]

As a rule, the two tend to be compartmentalised. Doing one means you have a very strong chance of doing the other.

 

[James_W]

Hussey>>Pietersen for me.

 

[Uppercut]

Are we talking of them as 'individual' batsman or as batsman who enchance their teams positions?

Can't see why that would make a difference.

I'd take Ponting too. Every single time.

 

[James_W]

Oops I thought the argument was Pietersen vs Hussey. KP vs. Ponting isn't even close.

 

[BoyBrumby]

It's no slur on KP to have to demur to Ponting, Punter's in the top half-dozen ever Oz batsmen. Only really Bradman is certainly above him, although cases could be made for G Chappell & (perhaps) Trumper too.

Pietersen's streets ahead of Hussey just now tho, there's not even a case to make for the latter on current form. When a bloke is in semi-serious danger of being dropped it's a nonsense to look at his whole career for a form guide.

 

[Richard]

Oops I thought the argument was Pietersen vs Hussey. KP vs. Ponting isn't even close.

Of course it is. Considering Ponting the better currently isn't completely devoid of merit, but suggesting he's streets ahead is plain wrong. Anyone making such a suggestion frankly suggests they've not been watching cricket since December 2006.

 

[four_or_six]

Of course it is. Considering Ponting the better currently isn't completely devoid of merit, but suggesting he's streets ahead is plain wrong. Anyone making such a suggestion frankly suggests they've not been watching cricket since December 2006.

If I could chose one, I'd definitely have Ponting.

Statistically, KP is averaging higher, but he does have the advantage of having played 34% of his matches against West Indies in that time, whereas Ponting only 8%... and that does have some effect on the stats.

 

[Richard]

So let's hear their averages against South Africa, New Zealand, India and Sri Lanka then?

 

[BoyBrumby]

I think their respective innings in the first test are the reason I'd choose Punter first still. He's far less likely to jizz it away once set.

EDIT: Incidentally, it said in today's Guardian of KP's likely replacement that he's played 10 tests versus Oz and has recorded 11 single figure scores. Not a stat to warm English ****les.

 

[Jarquis]

So let's hear their averages against South Africa, New Zealand, India and Sri Lanka then?

Opposition - Pietersen - Ponting

India - 47.33 - 47.02

New Zealand - 44.50 - 64.85

Pakistan - 42.15 - 81.61

South Africa - 60.14 - 56.38

Sri Lanka - 48.60 - 50.05

West Indies - 57.56 - 62.77​

 

[four_or_six]

So let's hear their averages against South Africa, New Zealand, India and Sri Lanka then?

Almost what you asked for, but including Aus/Eng

KP 46.18

Ponting 42.97

I could close the gap a little by declaring NZ also not worthy.

 

[Richard]

or not, they've played them a roughly equal amount. And clearly, while it's right to point-out that Pietersen has benefited from West Indies to a far greater degree, in doing that you must also acknowledge that Pietersen's runs against Australia in 2006/07 were worth far, far more than Ponting's against England.