I disagree ... totally ...

According to me a Test batsman's biggest Test is his ability to score against the toughest opponent in Test Matches in the backyard of the opponents which are supposed to be alien conditions.

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Please read further only if you agree to that line.

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Who were Australia's Toughest Opponents in the last decade ??

I will reproduce the figures :

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I hope you will agree... India has been their staunchest opponent in the last 10 years.

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So I guess you judge the Aussie players most importantly against the toughest team.

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Now a certain gentleman named Ricky Ponting has been declared the cricketer of the decade and I would like you to read below his performance against India in India.

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Would you call Gavaskar one of the best openers if he would have failed in West Indies ???

Would you call Sachin the Master Blaster if he failed in Australia ??

Would Lara be a genius if he wouldnt score in Australia ??

Apparently a host of cricket experts and journalists seemed to have forgotten the above.

Infact the only Test tour that the Australians won in India was thanks to non action of Ricky Ponting, he got injured and a certain Micheal Clarke made his debut and scored a century and sealed India's fate. Also to note is that Ricky did play one test in that series and Australia lost that on a square turner in Mumbai.

Even in 2001 the landmark series for India had Bevan played instead of Ponting who couldnt hit the ball off the square in one innings result could have been different.

The cricketer of the decade, in a decade when the bat has truly dominated, while batting in India against India, while 50000 people in the crowd bay for his blood, with 4 fielders around his bat, against the spinners simply BLINKS !!!

I rest my case...

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If anyone deserved it I think it was Glenn Mcgrath or Adam Gilchrist who have won every territory they have played in... !!!! Even Warne faltered in India but did well everywhere else.

Glenn Mcgrath & Adam Gilchrist were the only two players who have a blemishless record against all countries either home or away... Plus in a decade where bat dominated the ball, Glenn Mcgrath was a marvel of consistency and I have not seen him hit around in Test matches ever apart from the 1 Test match in Eden in 2001.