Ponting nowhere near Tendulkar, Lara`s iconic status, says Boycott

Ricky Ponting might have joined the 10,000-run-club, but he has no comparison with India`s master Sachin Tendulkar, who is technically correct and has caught the imagination of the public over the years, former English batsman Geoff Boycott has said.

He said he considers Ponting as the world`s best batsman at present, but he had not reached the all-time status enjoyed by his fellow modern-day greats - Tendulkar and West Indies` Brian Lara.

"Lara and Tendulkar are iconic figures, which is about more than being just a terrific player. They have captured the imagination of the public. They haven`t just scored runs: Lara twice got the record of most Test runs and he still holds the record of the highest score in Test cricket. Those are huge figures. And, the way he bats is just very special," he was quoted as saying.

Boycott added, "Sachin is technically correct against all kinds of bowlers and the way he took Shane Warne apart when he came to India makes him more than just a terrific player. Sorry, I don`t think Ponting is in the same league as Lara or Tendulkar." About the Aussie skipper, he added, "Ponting ... is a top-class player and I think most people would vote him as the best player over the last couple of years,"

During the second Test against the West Indies in Antigua, Ponting became the seventh player to pass 10,000 Test runs. He is also just the fourth player - along with recently retired West Indian Lara, and Indian duo Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid - to reach 10,000 runs in both Test and ODI cricket.