After the gripping end to the recent India-England Test series, Ricky Ponting shared his picks for the five greatest Test batters he has ever seen.
The former Australian captain, known for his sharp cricketing mind, surprised many by leaving Virat Kohli out of his list.
Instead, his choices included a mix of retired icons and two modern-day masters who have been dominating the format in recent years.
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Who did Ricky Ponting name as his top 5 Test batters?
Ponting’s list began with Brian Lara, a player he described as “The most skilful batsman he played against.”
He explained that during his time as captain, the West Indian legend caused him more trouble than any other batter.
"Brian Lara was the most skilful batsman I played against and when I was captain he gave me more sleepless nights than anybody," Ponting told The Times.
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From India, he went with Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, calling them technically flawless. Adding current players, Ponting picked Joe Root and Kane Williamson to complete his five.
"Sachin was technically as good as anyone I’ve seen, along with Rahul Dravid; I’d put Joe in there now as well, and Kane Williamson."
Notably, this meant India legend Kohli, widely considered one of the best of his generation, was left out.
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Which other players impressed RicketPonting?
The Australian great also had special praise for all-rounder Jacques Kallis, calling him the greatest cricketer he had seen.
On current England captain Ben Stokes, Ponting said, "Stokes is a hard one. Numbers don’t define him. It’s been about moments with him, he’s a situation player,"
"When things get toughest, he’s been at his best. When you’re talking about the greats, you’ve got to talk about impact on games," he added.
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Even though Kohli’s absence may surprise fans, the list clearly shows Ponting’s value for players who have maintained their dominance across many seasons.