Ponting is leading a side with only four players of his 14-member squad having played Test cricket in India. But he has the best record of all Australian captains. In 44 Tests he has lost only four Tests, importantly two of them have been against India. One of these was the only match he played on the previous Test tour four years ago, reports The Australian.

Ponting missed the first three matches on the 2004 tour through injury and Adam Gilchrist led the Australia side to cross what Steve Waugh said was the ‘Final Frontier’ by winning the first Test series in India for 35 years. Ponting led in the last Test only to lose narrowly on a dreadful pitch.

The other loss against India under Ponting came during the third Test last summer in Perth before Australia drew the final Test in Adelaide to seal a difficult 2-1 series victory.

Here on a promotional tour, Gilchrist said he does not doubt Dhoni’s ability but Tendulkar is simply the best.

“Well, it’s hard to compare whether statistically or in your mind or opinion. It’s a big award for Mahendra to win but I would still say Sachin is the best player of recent times,” Gilchrist told NDTV.

Making a comparative study of both the Indians, Gilchrist said, “Dhoni is firepower, (it’s more about) his explosiveness and unpredictability. If there is anything about Sachin, it’s his technicality, he is beautiful to watch and clinical whereas Dhoni is almost carefree, playing without fear that can hurt you most.

“He (Dhoni) hits some extraordinary shots that are quite unique to the game. You never see them in textbooks but are equally effective,” said the Australian.

Gilchrist was also against rushing Dhoni into the Test captain’s job even though he felt it was just a matter of time before the star stumper takes over the reins from Anil Kumble.

“Well, his time will come I believe,” Gilchrist said.

“There is no need to rush him in, I’m sure it’s just a matter of time. He looks to me like the top character who can handle both Test and one-day captaincy, and the wicket-keeping and batting roles and the many, many sponsors he has,” Gilchrist quipped.

Though no more part of the Australian squad, Gilchrist is not immune to issues affecting the Aussies and he sounded equally worried about the uncertainty over Andrew Symonds’ fate.

“I doubt he (Symonds) will retire, the passion still exists in Symmo, he’s got a bit more than he wants to accomplish. He just needs a bit of time, some people can’t comprehend the stresses, strains and pressures you are under, when you are under the microscope so much. Nowhere is the attention more than in India. Symmo is feeling the pinch a little bit and its great courage by the leadership group to say to him look you are not obviously fully focussed and we’ve got to get you move aside. It’s a tough one for Symmo,” Adam Gilchrist feel.

Source:NDTV

“I will be participating in the Irani Trophy. Just now I’m fine,” declared the master batsman at a promotional event for Aviva Insurance of which he is a brand ambassador.

The selectors will choose on Monday a near-strength Test squad for the annual tie from September 24-28 between last season’s Ranji Trophy champions (Delhi) and the Rest of India and are expected to name Tendulkar in the squad.

Tendulkar had to miss the five-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, after being a part of the Test squad under Anil Kumble that lost the series to the home team 1-2, after sustaining an elbow injury while fielding in the third and final match at Colombo. He returned home and was replaced in the ODI squad by S Badrinath.

The champion batsman could muster only 95 runs at a very dismal average of 15.83 per innings with 31 in the second innings of the second Test at Galle, won by India, as his highest score in the three-match Test rubber.

Before the series, the ace batsman, who appeared in his 150th Test in Colombo, was only 172 runs adrift of overtaking West Indian great Brian Lara as the highest run getter in Tests, but fell way short of that target.

The Irani Cup tie is seen as a virtual selection trial by the selectors who want to pit the best players from the Rest of India to take on a strong Delhi team and prepare the Indian squad for the high-profile Test series against Australia starting in Bengaluru next month.

Tendulkar, who had played a stellar role in guiding India to its first-ever ODI tri-series win in Australia in March, was asked about the perceived divide between seniors and juniors in the team at the promotional event and replied that showing maturity was important.

The ace batsman was also all praise for the Indian Olympic medallists, including first-ever individual gold winner for the country — rifle shooter Abhinav Bindra – at last month’s Beijing Games.

“It was good that India could get three medals in the Olympics which has made all the countrymen proud. People only remember successful people but efforts (made) should also be counted and recognised,” he felt.

He also said that sports federations need to develop infrastructure and facilities for the players to excel. “They should fulfil reasonable requirements of the sports persons,” Tendulkar added.