The Rival XI - A team which can beat the Wisden XI

Middle Order

Ricky Ponting

Tests – 168

Runs – 13,378

Average – 51.85

100s – 41

A perfect man to walk into number three after the two solid openers. He is undoubtedly the second best Australian batsman ever after Sir Don Bradman and the closest competitor of Sachin Tendulkar.

When Ponting made his debut for the Australia team in 1995, not many rated him that highly as he struggled against the spinners and failed to pile up the big scores.

However, the turn of the millennium saw Ricky Ponting come out of his slumber and elevate himself to a different level of greatness. He moved up the order in the batting line up and started to rip apart bowling attacks across the globe.