Brian Lara vs Ricky Ponting (against pace bowling)

[Johan]

Two guys with some problems with pace, but Ponting destroys express pacers which Lara didn't do well as that's well documented even from Michael Holding, while Lara destroys medium pacers and Ponting has struggled against a decent amount of medium pacers who rely on sideways movement. so this isn't just about Donald/Akhtar or about Anderson/McGrath type bowlers but about pace bowling as a whole.

 

[subshakerz]

Ponting somewhat easily.

I am struggling to think of a medium pacer who Lara destroyed but Ponting struggled with.

 

[OverratedSanity]

I'd take Lara ahead of Ponting vs any kind of bowling tbh

 

[BazBall21]

Think Ponting was a slightly better player of pace. Lara destroys him v spin.

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Very close. Both were ATG players of pace.

 

[capt_Luffy]

Ponting somewhat easily.

I am struggling to think of a medium pacer who Lara destroyed but Ponting struggled with.

I am struggling to think of any ATG bowler Ponting destroyed while they were good .....

 

[Spark]

I am struggling to think of any ATG bowler Ponting destroyed while they were good .....

Murali. Granted, mostly at home (though he didn't disgrace himself in SL in 03 either)

 

[BazBall21]

I am struggling to think of any ATG bowler Ponting destroyed while they were good .....

His 2002-2007 prime coincided with very few good attacks faced. There was the 2005 Ashes where he had mixed returns. The SL tour wasn't easy.

 

[Johan]

Very close. Both were ATG players of pace.

why

 

[subshakerz]

I am struggling to think of any ATG bowler Ponting destroyed while they were good .....

Peak Donald in 97, scored a ton against him. That's one more than Lara. Pretty consistently destroyed Pollock.

 

[Johan]

His 2002-2007 prime coincided with very few good attacks faced. There was the 2005 Ashes where he had mixed returns. The SL tour wasn't easy.

almost like featherbed pitches, diminished attacks and ATG batting lineup around them is why Ponting averaged high

 

[capt_Luffy]

Murali. Granted, mostly at home (though he didn't disgrace himself in SL in 03 either)

1) I was mostly talking about pacers/medium pacers as the point Subs brought.
2) Murali really was terrible in his 4 games in Australia. Ponting did decently in SL, but certainly nothing special imo.

 

[capt_Luffy]

His 2002-2007 prime coincided with very few good attacks faced. There was the 2005 Ashes where he had mixed returns. The SL tour wasn't easy.

My point Exactly.

 

[Johan]

Ponting did better in Sri Lanka than his great contemporary and rival Kallis did

 

[subshakerz]

1) I was mostly talking about pacers/medium pacers as the point Subs brought.
2) Murali really was terrible in his 4 games in Australia. Ponting did decently in SL, but certainly nothing special imo.

He owned Murali in 99 when the rest of the lineup struggled.

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Peak Donald in 97, scored a ton against him. That's one more than Lara.

Ponting also did very well against Shoaib Akhtar who was bowling at ATG level in the 2000s

 

[BazBall21]

almost like featherbed pitches, diminished attacks and ATG batting lineup around them is why Ponting averaged high

The cards definitely fell for him, it's the monstrous output before his decline that assures him a place in ATG discussions. Lacking opportunities v gun attacks in your prime though is unlucky in a legacy sense.

 

[BazBall21]

Ponting also did very well against Shoaib Akhtar who was bowling at ATG level in the 2000s

The lack of support at the other end helps batsmen but Justin Langer was very good v Shoaib too. I believe Langer is the best opener v pace of the 21st century.

 

[DrWolverine]

Ricky Ponting has scored centuries against Donald(1997), Ambrose & Walsh(1999), Akhtar & Akram(1999), Bond(2001), 4x Pollock(2005) and Steyn(2008).

 

[capt_Luffy]

Peak Donald in 97, scored a ton against him. That's one more than Lara. Pretty consistently destroyed Pollock.

Ponting did good, but you surely don't mean to use that series as an example of 'destroyed'???