Sachin is the greatest batsman I ever played with or against: Ponting

SACHIN TENDULKAR, BRIAN LARA AND RICKY PONTING were arguably the greatest batsmen of their era. All these legends also shared enormous respect and admiration for each other throughout their career. The Aussies might have played hard cricket on the field, but showed no hesitation in appreciating the master class of Lara and Tendulkar. 

However, the Australians have always maintained the highest regard for master blaster Tendulkar for various reasons. Now, well past their retirement, the former Aussie captain Ponting continues to heap praises on the Indian genius. 

"For me, he's the greatest batsman after Don Bradman. While I hold Brian Lara in high regard because of his match-winning ability, I don't think any batsman can achieve more out of the game than Sachin has," Ponting wrote in his forward for a book titled 'Tendulkar in Wisden: An anthology'. 

Ponting further marveled at how Tendulkar could play the game at such a high level over two decades. 

“The word great is often bandied about, but great is something that's achieved over a long period of time. Younger players may reach No.1 over a period of 12 or 18 months -- that's not great. That's having a good year. If you can do it as long as Sachin did, only then you be considered great.”

Both Ponting and Tendulkar have seen and done in all in international cricket and were even a part of the Mumbai Indians set-up in the IPL. The two legends also opened the batting together for MI a few years back. 

"Over the last couple of years -- during my association with the Mumbai Indians -- I've got to know him better. ...it was a delight to get to know him away from the publicity's glare and over a glass of wine -- Sachin and I have done a lot of that over the last couple of years, and I think we've both been able to appreciate each other a lot more as a result.” 

Continuing his praises on Tendulkar, Ponting added, 

"Sachin is the greatest batsman I ever played with or against, because he made batting look so simple. His technique was always rock solid, but he still managed to take the game away from you really quickly. He was the most rounded batsman I have known.”

"His abiding love for the game and pursuit of goals were astonishing -- just to keep motivating yourself every day for 24 years to stay hungry and fit is what I admire so much. He had dreams of winning a World Cup, and he finally got to do it in his sixth tournament, in 2011."