In a stunning revelation that has set the cricket world abuzz, legendary former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has anointed his countryman Steve Smith as the finest number 4 batter in Test cricket history, even placing him above the iconic Indian maestro Sachin Tendulkar.
Ponting's Ultimate Batting Hierarchy
The selection process unfolded like a high-stakes tournament bracket. Ponting was presented with a series of head-to-head choices between the game's greatest batsmen. He started by picking England's flamboyant Kevin Pietersen over Sri Lanka's elegant Mahela Jayawardene. The Australian legend then reaffirmed his preference for Pietersen when pitted against another stylish player, Mark Waugh.
The competition intensified when Pakistan's legendary fighter Javed Miandad was introduced, but Ponting still sided with Pietersen. However, the entry of Steve Smith into the fray changed everything. Ponting chose Smith over Miandad, and then made the even more significant decision to pick Smith over the legendary West Indian left-hander Brian Lara.
The Australian's dominance in Ponting's eyes continued as he was selected ahead of the prolific South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis. The most anticipated modern-day clash came next: Steve Smith versus Virat Kohli. In a decision that will fuel debates for years, Ponting went with Smith.
The Final Verdict: Smith Trumps Tendulkar
Ponting's final and most dramatic choice was between Smith and the man many consider the 'God of Cricket', Sachin Tendulkar. Without hesitation, Ponting crowned Steve Smith as the best number 4 batter in the longest format of the game.
Throughout the process, Ponting provided clear reasoning for his picks. When choosing Smith over England's current captain Joe Root, he pointed to the cold, hard stats, noting, "Smith's average is obviously better, Root has got 13,500 runs. I'm gonna go with Steve Smith still."
A Fierce Ashes Battle Ahead
Shifting his focus from individual brilliance to team rivalry, Ponting also delivered his prediction for the upcoming Ashes series. Despite Australia's formidable record at home, where they have lost only four Tests to England this century and have held the Ashes since 2018, Ponting expects a fiercely competitive contest.
He believes England's aggressive 'Bazball' approach under Ben Stokes will eliminate the possibility of drawn games. "I don't think there'll be any draws, just the way that England play," Ponting declared confidently.
He also expressed optimism about the weather, a traditional spoiler in Australian summers, particularly in Sydney. "If there's reasonable weather... I don't foresee any drawn games and I just think it's going to be really, really close," he added. His final prediction? A nail-biting 3-2 series victory for Australia.
