Chappell, a former Australian Test captain, is arguably the most one-eyed of the notoriously partisan Channel Nine bunch, and the fact that he rates Ricky Ponting as better than both Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara is a glaring testament to that.

But that old argument over the 'best of our time' is a nigh impossible and ultimately inconsequential task. The fact is, those three masters' time have come and almost gone and now the question is: who's next?

Chappell, surprisingly, has ignored the merits of countrymen like Michael Clarke and Phil Hughes and has made a case for our own Jean-Paul Duminy... and I'm inclined to agree.

"Like the past batting masters, Duminy doesn't waste time tinkering with frivolous shots and scores most of his runs from traditional cricket strokes," Chappell said in a Cricinfo column dedicated entirely to Duminy's impending greatness.

And that's just the thing, in amongst the contemporary trend of aggressive and inventive shot 'manufacturing', JP is all class.

The quality of a player is quite a difficult thing to quantify, but every cricket-lover who has seen a crisp cover drive off the face of Duminy's Gray-Nicolls will testify that this player has got something extra.

The 25 year-old's incredible exploits in the Proteas' historic first-ever Test series victory in Australia announced him to the world, and his recent displays in the contracted forms of the game suggest he is ready to move up to a senior role in all arenas.

Test cricket no longer everything

Today, more than at any other stage in the past, Test cricket is not seen as the be-all and end-all of a player's ability.

Tendulkar and Ponting have scored bucket-loads of runs in limited-overs cricket, and their ability to dominate and change the course of a game single-handedly is what sets them apart from the rest.

This ability, which has probably prevented Jacques Kallis from being mentioned in the same breath as the aforementioned 'big three', is one which JP seems to have learnt over time.

A few years back, the skilful left-hander wasn't seen as a big enough hitter to make it as an international one-day player, but after his recent Champions League campaign, Roelof vd Merwe will be the first to concede that clearing the boundary is no longer an issue for the former Plumstead High pupil.

That a classical batsmen like Duminy has added brutality and innovation to his textbook armoury is a testament to how much of a talent he really is.

Of course, there are other pretenders to Ponting's throne and in years to come the likes of Ross Taylor, Tillekeratne Dilshan and AB de Villiers will have records that will be tough to top.

Greatness though, is not only measured in statistics and the most pertinent question often is — who would you most like to watch in full flight?

For Chappell, it is Ponting. For me, it was always Lara. Until now that is.

Do you think Duminy will go on to become the best batsman in the world? Or will somebody else? Leave your comments below!

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