Joe Root vs Ponting

[capt_Luffy]

Is Root possibly better?

 

[trundler]

No.

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Are you joking?

 

[capt_Luffy]

Are you joking?

How come Root v Dravid is valid, but Root v Ponting isn't??

 

[PlayerComparisons]

How come Root v Dravid is valid, but Root v Ponting isn't??

Neither is valid atm tbh but I do rate Ponting significantly higher than Dravid.

 

[capt_Luffy]

Neither is valid atm tbh but I do rate Ponting significantly higher than Dravid.

I don't.

 

[capt_Luffy]

Fwiw, Root is definitely a better player of spin.

 

[BazBall21]

Ponting.

If Root can keep going for a few years and have that good tour of Australia, it could become debatable.

 

[Johan]

Ponting

to get ahead, Root needs a monster series down under or some crazy longetivity

 

[BazBall21]

Fwiw, Root is definitely a better player of spin.

Root v pace and bounce against Ponting v spin is close. One of Root's best tons came in a low-scoring game at the Wanderers and Ponting played a couple of good knocks v Murali.

 

[Majestic]

Ponting.

Even though he was poor in India with an average of 26, his ability to dominate bowling attacks ( especially pace bowling) was second to none. When you are superb vs pace and bounce, fast bowlers struggle to put pressure.

Root is slightly better than Dravid and Sangakkara but behind Ponting in my opinion. He would need to be more dominant and prolific to be in conversation with Tendulkar, Lara, S Smith or Ponting. For now, he can be put in the tier of Kallis, Dravid and Sangakkara.

 

[Majestic]

One thing though, Root has played in more bowling friendly conditions than Ponting, Dravid or Sangakkara.

 

[BazBall21]

Ponting.

Even though he was poor in India with an average of 26, his ability to dominate bowling attacks ( especially pace bowling) was second to none. When you are superb vs pace and bounce, fast bowlers struggle to put pressure.

Root is slightly better than Dravid and Sangakkara but behind Ponting in my opinion. He would need to be more dominant and prolific to be in conversation with Tendulkar, Lara, S Smith or Ponting. For now, he can be put in the tier of Kallis, Dravid and Sangakkara.

One of the hardest batsmen to bowl to.

 

[capt_Luffy]

One of the hardest batsmen to bowl to.

If you aren't Harbhajan Singh.....

Though I will say, Ponting vs Pace is ahead of Root vs Spin; but Root was a better player of lateral movement than Ponting, be it spin or swing.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Root is slightly better than Dravid and Sangakkara but behind Ponting in my opinion. He would need to be more dominant and prolific to be in conversation with Tendulkar, Lara, S Smith or Ponting. For now, he can be put in the tier of Kallis, Dravid and Sangakkara.

Sanga is better than Ponting

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Is Root possibly better?

No.

Also it is harder to bat at 3 than 4.

 

[BazBall21]

No.

Also it is harder to bat at 3 than 4.

I once had a look at the average Australia score when Ponting entered the crease. It was 75. The average for when Root has entered is probably lower than that.

 

[BazBall21]

If you aren't Harbhajan Singh.....

Though I will say, Ponting vs Pace is ahead of Root vs Spin; but Root was a better player of lateral movement than Ponting, be it spin or swing.

Perhaps Dravid's biggest downfall was being excessively hesitant to play horizontal shots against hit the deck pressure from both ends. That was something Ponting excelled at.

 

[BazBall21]

Root not succeeding at 3 is a mark against him in comparison to Ponting, Dravid and Sanga (although the experiment at no3 coincided with the 'pace pandemic' while they all played in batting eras - mostly rather than entirely in Dravid's case).

But it arguably shouldn't count against him in comparison to players who exclusively batted 4 or 5 etc. Especially when Root has a battery of hundreds after coming in at 20-2 - 40-2.

Root has scored 9500 @ 56 in positions 4&5.

 

[Howe_zat]

I'll take Root for his bowling