*Official* Australia in West Indies Thread

[Eclipse]

I would rate Lara higher because of the quality of opposition he is facing as compared to what Ponting is facing.

Pontings last 14 tests: 8 Hundereds somthing like 1600 runs at an avrage of 80! We are not just talking of this current series Ponting has been brilliant for a sustained period now surley you need to take that into account wether or not you rate Lara's performance in this series better or not?

 

[Eclipse]

Currently he's playing well, but I still don't think he can match SRT just yet.

Deffinatly I agree I just think his natrual sports skills so far as hand eye cordination etc.. are about as good as there is in Cricket today but as you know that does not make him the best batsman. I dont thinik Ponting will ever have quite as good a techneque as Tendulkar so there for probably wont ever be quite as good.

 

[krkode]

Pontings last 14 tests: 8 Hundereds somthing like 1600 runs at an avrage of 80! We are not just talking of this current series Ponting has been brilliant for a sustained period now surley you need to take that into account wether or not you rate Lara's performance in this series better or not?

Ponting hasn't had to face Lee or Gillespie:saint:

But I guess that's an advantage that is unfair to take into consideration...

 

[aussie_beater]

Pontings last 14 tests: 8 Hundereds somthing like 1600 runs at an avrage of 80! We are not just talking of this current series Ponting has been brilliant for a sustained period now surley you need to take that into account wether or not you rate Lara's performance in this series better or not?

Surely Ponting has been in very good form for sometime now and in his current form, he is one of the best batsman playing the game. Actually if I remember correctly, it started with his hundred at Cape Town against SA in 2002.Before that he had quite a mediocre series against SA in Australia in 2001 and didn't have a very good Ashes either in England in summer of 2001.

And BTW, Lara also has scored close to 1800 runs in his last 17 tests with 5 hundreds.And in this series he is facing a more potent attack then what the Aussie batsman are having to face.

 

[age_master]

ponting averages higher in domestic cricket where he plays the lees and gillespies etc

 

[Eclipse]

Surely Ponting has been in very good form for sometime now and in his current form, he is one of the best batsman playing the game. Actually if I remember correctly, it started with his hundred at Cape Town against SA in 2002.Before that he had quite a mediocre series against SA in Australia in 2001 and didn't have a very good Ashes either in England in summer of 2001.

And BTW, Lara also has scored close to 1800 runs in his last 17 tests with 5 hundreds.And in this series he is facing a more potent attack then what the Aussie batsman are having to face.

In the Ashes he had a poor first few tests but still ended up avraging over 40 for the series. It also included a blistering 140 of witch 112 of his runs came in the fisrt session of play.

Also an interesting figure is that after 65 tests witch Ponting has right now Tendulkar had 18 test 100s to Pontings 17.

 

[marc71178]

That stat means nothing though, Tendulkar is still the better player.

I see Lara has Chickenpox - the curse of playing against Australia strikes again!

 

[Rik]

He has bowled to short like I said he would and may I remind you that YOU had a go at me for suggesting he would not have a good series because I though his length was to short.

You said he did well in Oz last time but he bowls a shorter lengh than he did back then.

Having said that droping him is very harsh he is still probably there best bowler.

Yes I had a go at you because you were claiming he was a rubbish bowler before the series even started. He's had a poor series but then, who doesn't? I'd like to know of any player who has never had a poor series, even the Don had poor series, although they were still better than most people's good series'!

He did do well in Australia last time, and look at the pitches he's having to bowl on at the moment. Where's the life? What's he supposed to do? Bowling short is not a problem, it sometimes works against the Australian batsmen because they will allways try and score.

 

[Rik]

YAY Martyn out, Clarke in for the ODI leg of the tour

Yet another comment I find baffling. I'd rather have Martyn in my team any day over Clarke, he's proven quality.

 

[Rik]

Ponting hasn't had to face Lee or Gillespie:saint:

But I guess that's an advantage that is unfair to take into consideration...

If he had to face Lee then he would probably be averaging over 100 :saint:

Lee has 2 lengths, short or full, mostly short, and Ponting thrives on that.

 

[Rik]

ponting averages higher in domestic cricket where he plays the lees and gillespies etc

Yes but has Ponting ever scored 501* in FC cricket or 375 in Test cricket? No? Not even Tendulkar has. Ponting is more consistant at the moment but Lara has the ability to go on and on and on at an amazing scoring rate, a lot of his 100s are big ones. Ponting is in one hell of a purple patch at the moment, but so was Hayden, I would rate neither Ponting or Hayden as better batsmen than Lara or Tendulkar, or even close really. Lara and Tendulkar are just something else.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

ponting averages higher in domestic cricket where he plays the lees and gillespies etc

The Lees ? And Gillespies ?

Lara hasn't played a full season in the Caribbean in forever. When he did, he faced Ambrose, Walsh and Bishop. I would personally take Ambrose and Walsh over Lee and Gillespie anyday.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Why not with Lara?? Ponting has a better Test avrage witch you would expect to continue to rise and only 3 less 100's despite being 6 years younger? Also there ODI records are very simular with Ponting again only 2 less 100's so you would expect him to easly overtake Lara in terms of runs & avrage by the time he retires.

If we're talking stats. How many double hundreds has Ponting had? One. How many has Lara had? Two against Australia (and 153* and 182), one against Sri Lanka and off course that minor effort of 375...

You simply cannot compare the Test or ODI average of Lara and Ponting at this point in time. Ponting hasn't played as long to maintain his average.

But stats aren't everything. Especially not ODI stats...Test cricket is the true test of a player.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Lara's first 5 years in Test cricket.

31 Matches
52 Innings
2 NO
3048 Runs
HS- 375
Avge- 60.96
7 hundreds
16 fifties

Ponting's first 5 years in Test cricket.

36 Matches
55 Innings
6 NO
2258 Runs
HS 197
Avge- 46.08
7 hundreds
10 fifties

Difference in runs is 790, with a 3 innings difference.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Ponting has played cricket for 7.5 years.

66 Matches
105 Innings
4674 Runs
HS 206
Avge- 50.80
16 hundreds
17 fifties

Lara's first 7.5 years.

43 Matches
72 Innings
2 NO
3884 Runs
HS 375
Avge- 55.48
9 hundreds
20 fifties

The run difference is 790. The innings difference is 33. Therefore, Lara would have to average but 23.94 runs per innings to match Ponting.

But, as I said before, stats don't determine a player, but these are pretty interesting.

The career runs difference in 3247 with a 56 innings difference, meaning that Ponting would have to average 57.98 runs per innings (completed innings) to match Lara at this point.

 

[PY]

Nothing to do with the argument but :wow: at number of hundreds Ponting has made...

IMO Lara is a slightly better player as he has been carrying the WI batting line-up with a bit of help from Chanderpaul for a long time. I also prefer his style of play. I'll always remember the last time WI came to England, might have even been that 375 innings but when he played a cover drive down on one one knee with a small flourish in the stroke. He the man 8D. And I believe any Aussies averages in the current squad should be taken with a pinch of salt as people are saying in other threads because of the depth of talent. Not quite as relevant for Ponting as he bats at 3 but still must be nice to know that 4 people below have a combined average of over 200.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Ganga lobs a waist high full toss straight to Bichel. Horrible shot. Should've been six.

First ball, Chanderpaul gets a short long hop....pulls.....top edge......lobs to Lee, simple catch. Horrible shot. Should've been six.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Sarwan and Banks out and the world's greatest no. 8 batsman has come to the crease- Brian Charles Lara.

Who ever said the WI tail was weak?

 

[PY]

Not expecting that much from him if the reports that he has chicken pox are correct.... Was looking quite good an hour ago but now looks rather dodgy.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Baugh is looking very good. When he matures, he will be an excellent asset for WI for years to come. He's only 20.

As I type, Lara dropped by Ponting on 9.