The greatest batsman of the last generation: Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara or Ricky Ponting?

Shahid Afridi ranks Brian Lara (R) above Ricky Ponting (C) and Sachin Tendulkar (L) (Getty Images)

Comparisons between players of different generations in any sport are a rather controversial issue, and one that is always fraught with danger. In a sport like cricket, comparing batsmen from different eras merely by their averages and strike rates may not paint the correct picture. And in modern day Test cricket, scoring rates have skyrocketed over the last 20 years due to the increasing number of ODIs.

Australian Sir Donald Bradman is without a doubt, the greatest batsman of all time. But deciding the second best is never an easy task. While attempting to shed light on the greatest batsman of the last generation (the last 20 years), India’s Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara of the West Indies and Australia’s Ricky Ponting invariably make the top three. And since the trio did not play many T20Is, let us just evaluate their Test and ODI performance.

In ODIs, Tendulkar is clearly the best batsman of his generation and will almost certainly walk into any pundit’s all-time world XI. He has played more matches, scored more runs, has a higher average and strike-rate, and has more centuries than Lara and Ponting.

Some would argue that he has played more matches in the subcontinent than Lara and Ponting – where the tracks are docile and batting friendly – and therefore has a better record than his contemporaries. To his credit, the master blaster does have more centuries than Lara and Ponting home, away and at neutral venues

But Tendulkar used to open the innings for a majority of those matches and used to go after the new ball almost from the get-go, thereby increasing his chances of getting out. Yet his numbers in ODIs are higher than the other two, and that in my book, helps him top the list.

In Tests, the scenario is a little different. While Tendulkar has scored more runs than his rivals, he has played 67 more Tests than Lara and 30 more than Ponting.

The averages of the three are rather similar. But it would be an erroneous claim to suggest that Tendulkar is better than the other two just on the basis of their career average as both Lara and Ponting scored their runs at a quicker rate than him.

Tendulkar averages more than 50 both home and away; in fact, he averages more in alien conditions. Lara and Ponting average lesser away from home. Interestingly, Tendulkar has scored more centuries away, than he has at home.

Even though Ponting’s performance in India steadily improved over the years, he still averaged only 26 in India and managed only one century in 14 appearances; a sign that he wasn’t at his best away from his comfort zone.

Tendulkar and Lara are equally adept against pace and spin. Muttiah Muralidaran, the highest wicket-taker in Tests famously said Lara was the hardest player he has ever bowled too. Even though in theory, he should find it easier to bowl to a left-hander as he turned the ball away from the bat. Lara averaged nearly 59 in 15 matches in Asia.

The other premier spin bowler of the last generation and perhaps the greatest of all time, Shane Warne, rates Tendulkar as the best he has ever bowled to.

While players from outside the sub-continent struggle on tour, players from the sub-continent have often found it difficult to acclimatise to the bounce of Australia (and South Africa) and swing in England. But Tendulkar’s managed a total of 15 centuries in 52 matches in these countries.

Lara, however, would top the Test charts, closely followed by Tendulkar and then Ponting. But the margin by which Tendulkar towers over his rivals in ODIs makes him the greatest of the three.

Tendulkar has often had to shoulder the expectations of a billion people. Moreover his great longevity tips the scales in his favour. The fact that he has been equally successful in both Tests and ODIs over 24 years is a testament to fact.

The Indian is clearly the greatest batsman of the last generation.