Modern Legend

[godoubleblues]

Lara for me, just a sensational batsman who when he turned it on was unstoppable and a joy to watch, a real showman
then Tendulkar, the ultimate professional and the pressure he has had to endure with the weight of a billion people on his shoulders
Ponting is certainly a great but just behind the other two IMO, but his effort in this last test was fantastic and he might have to do more in the near future

[CoverKing]

I think you'd be right there CP, Ponting debuted in 95, which i think was approximately the year Boony retired.

yeah but i think from memory that ponting did bat at 6 for around 3-4 years did he not??

[GWW]

Yeah i think you're right there, although i guess Ponting was probably the next long term first drop after Boon.

There were a few players in between such as Langer, Blewett, S Waugh, even Love for a test or 2.

[ubeauty]

Scratchin Tendulkar for me................the little bugger has been a quality player for such a long time!!!............and he's guy that really seems to love batting...........

[CoverKing]

yeah langer was at the spot for a short while! that was when slater and taylor were opening and he couldn crack it as the opener! Blewett did bat number three for a fair period of his short career!
i cant remember steve waugh batting at three for that long tho, if ever! looking at the test cap numbers i assume ponting would have replaced boon as the first long term number three..

interesting too see that dravid just brought up 8000 runs in test cricket in the number 3 spot. the first man ever to do so!

[GWW]

Yeah i'd say S Waugh only batted at 3 for only a handful of games.

[CoverKing]

Yeah i'd say S Waugh only batted at 3 for only a handful of games.

hence the match saver status he had and not the match winner status! Great number 5 though!

[jackpot jim]

Lara just ahead of Ponting with Tendulker a Clear margin away in 3rd.
Tendulker would have scored a lot of runs on the flat tracks and lightning outfields in India to inflate his average just as his teamates who have comparable averages.
Dravid 52.28
Sehwag 51.06
Gambhir 49.35

[JK]

I guess the other factor on this, is how many runs Lara and Tendulkar made aginast the Aussies, widely recognised as the best bowling attack during their time and perhaps a breakdown of their runs home and away?

Also, are Lara's stats a little padded by that 1 (admittedly ultra spectacular) inning ... How do we judge these players, by the number of wins it's believed they've contributed to, or how classy they appeared while at the crease etc?

[Gozu]

1.Lara
a bit of daylight
2. Ponting
3. Tendulkar

[NFC]

Ponting, guy is an absolute, out and out freak. 2nd best Aussie batsman ever.

[godoubleblues]

against Australia:
Brian Lara - 31 tests, 2856 runs, HS 277, 9 centuries, ave 51.00 (career ave 52.88)
in aust - 19 tests, 1469 runs, HS 277, 4 centuries, ave 41.97
in WI - 12 tests, 1387 runs, HS 213, 5 centuries, ave 66.04

Sachin Tendulker - 29 tests, 2748 runs, HS 241 not out, 10 centuries, ave 56.08 (career ave 54.27)
in aust - 16 tests, 1522 runs, HS 241 not out, 6 centuries, ave 58.53
in Ind - 13 tests, 1226 runs, HS 177, 4 centuries, ave 53.3

looking at the above stats, Lara very good at home not so good in australia while Sachin has been very good in Australia

[Media Park]

Tendulkar...
nuff said...

[catchisthecry]

Lara.... carried a shit side.
Lot easier to bat when you got 5 other blokes averaging 50+ around ya.

[Media Park]

Lara.... carried a s***t side.
Lot easier to bat when you got 5 other blokes averaging 50+ around ya.

How can you say Lara carried the side???
Border carried his side, saving matches....
Lara still lost them.... he never saved anything...

[catchisthecry]

1. Border is not on this poll
2. He didn't win anyhting either until the players around him improved
3. Lara HAD to carry a side on his own, unlike Ponting and tendulkar.

[cripple]

Brian lara is a class above, and the fact that i have not heard anyone bad mouth him with the exception of some agressive partying says so much about him as a cricketer and as a person. when he began in the early 90's he was able to force his way into a side that was still arguably the best and play a pivotal role at an age most others are playing grade cricket. He has suceeded against all attacks in all test playing nations and when doubts were cast over his form, he came out and proved his doubters wrong (adelaide oval 226 runs in 05/06). He is a player that is worth the price of admission alone and even forced some of us to change our cricketing allegiances.
after this tendulkar just shades ponting but both are very good batsmen who also started their test careers very young.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Lara gets my vote for his ability to accumulate massive totals, whilst being an attractive stoke player at the same time. I'm still amazed at how a player can break Sobers' long standing record with a 375, then the moment Hayden trumps him with 380, he comes back with a 400!! Amazing stuff. He also belted a 501 in 1st class cricket .. easily the best batsman in the modern game.

[Pag]

Lara
Tendulkar
Ponting

Lara the best batsman I've seen in my lifetime.

[Dutchy]

Ponting, guy is an absolute, out and out freak. 2nd best Aussie batsman ever.

one flaw in your arguement...he never had to deal with the Aussie bowling line up in its prime

Lara for me....clearly and then the same gap between Ponting and Sachin