Jason_M said:
he hasn't come up against quality bowling and he's played most of his test cricket on flat tracks.
Thats an amazing statement. Lets just examine it a bit closely.
In another thread, I expressed surprise that majority on CW preferred Ponting before Lara and Tendulkar as a batsman (the context was the world test XI 1986-2006).
Of course its not my case that Ponting is anything but a champion batsman.
But what kind of wickets has PONTING played on and against what type of attacks??
Gilchrist made his debut on 5th Nov 1999. Since then Ponting has played in 77 test matches. Gilchrist has played in ALL of them.
Ponting has a fantastic record in the last 7 years and averages 63.7 in these 77 test matches. Gilchrist doesnt have as great a record as ponting (if he had we could probably call him the greatest all rounder ever in the history of the game ??), but still has
a batting average of 50.8 in the same 77 games !!
EVERYONE of the matches Ponting has played for last seven years and built his HUGE reputation as a batsman mind you.
SO. Either Ponting has played only on flat tracks and against weak bowling sides and does not desewrve the accolades so easily showered upon him, OR Gilchrist is a batsman of more than a little merit.
I suggest it is the latter.
I sympathise with those who think Gilchrist has always batted on flat tracks and against ordinary bowling. I think I understand that feeling. Gilchrist makes most wickets look so easy to bat on and most bowlers in the world little more than mere trundlers.
PS : Yes I know he has had a few failures (as if that was a crime for someomne with such a tremendous record) but may I remind of a team called India and an Australian batsman of below average height and his batting record against them when on tour.
