Tendulkar best batsman, ahead of Lara: Ponting

Sydney, Mar 14 (UNI) Australia captain Ricky Ponting paid Sachin Tendulkar the ultimate compliment, saying that the Indian maestro was the most complete batsman of his generation, even better than West Indian Brian Lara.

Ponting compared the exploits of Tendulkar, Lara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Shaun Pollock in his column appeared in 'The Australian' on Monday.

Though admitting that Lara could prove to be the greatest danger at the World Cup in the Caribbean, he said it was Tendulkar -- the world's highest one-day international run-scorer -- who would edge out the rest because of his ''complete technique.'' ''Lara and Tendulkar are the two best batsmen I have played against. I have rated Sachin slightly ahead because technically I thought he was a bit tighter, but Lara on his day is probably more damaging.

''We have always felt we were a chance to get Lara out early, knowing full well if we didn't it was going to be a long day. He used to get right back and shuffle in front of his stumps to the pacemen and was a chance to be dismissed lbw,'' said Ponting, who could become in the Caribbean the only second captain after Clive Lloyd to lift the coveted World Cup trophy twice.

''But Tendulkar has the best technique and has performed well in all conditions. He is the most complete batsman I have seen,'' the Aussie said.

''To have 41 one-day international tons shows what an appetite he has for scoring runs.

''He and I haven't really spoken that much through the years.

The Indians tend to keep to themselves and don't hang around very long after play.

''It's amazing how he has to live his life because of his popularity at home. We have heard stories of him having to do his grocery shopping at 3 am. He's got a Ferrari, which he has had to drive around in the early hours of the morning so he can get a bit of peace,'' Ponting wrote in his column.

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