Watson feels Smith is in Ponting bracket

Australia allrounder Shane Watson has hailed fellow international Steve Smith, saying he is heading to be just as good as former captain Ricky Ponting, probably the highest honour one can give an Australian batsman.
Ponting, who amassed 13 378 runs in his Test career, is thought to be the greatest batsman Australia has produced since Sir Donald Bradman.
Watson played for the national side when Ponting was in prime batting form in the late nineties and early into the new millennium, and has no doubt in which way Smith is heading.
Late in the year 2014 Smith scored centuries in all four home Test matches against India, and has amassed a further three hundreds in ODI cricket in the past four months.
Watson said: "It really has been a privilege to see the way he's been batting and playing and also holding himself as well. I've been very lucky through my career to be able to play with some of the great players that have played for Australia.
"Ricky Ponting is someone who I idolised and was able to see up close how he dominated world cricket for such a long period of time.
"To see Steve Smith and what he's doing in this point of time is very much along the lines of what Ricky Ponting was doing when he was dominating. It's like they're playing another game. No matter the quality of bowler or who is bowling, they never seem fazed.
"They're able to take on whoever is bowling and really is a privilege to be able to see someone who is at their absolute peak."
Latest
-
News
George Scrimshaw holds final-over nerves to guide Derbyshire past Lancashire
Scrimshaw successfully defended the 10 runs in the final over.
-
England
Jonny Bairstow and England looking to ‘take the game forward’
Bairstow hit a run-a-ball hundred for the second Test in succession as England fought back spectacularly against New Zealand.
-
England
Jonny Bairstow century leads thrilling England fightback at Headingley
The Yorkshireman made 130 not out and put on 209 with debutant Jamie Overton to rescue his side from 55 for six against New Zealand.
-
England
England top order left in tatters as New Zealand gain upper hand at Headingley
The hosts were 93 for six in reply to New Zealand’s 329 all out.
-
New Zealand
Daryl Mitchell breaks record with another century against England
Mitchell broke Martin Donnelly’s New Zealand tally of 492 runs in a series in England, set back in 1949.
-
England
Superb James Vince ton leads Hampshire to shock win over Somerset
Sussex’s five-match losing streak came to an end with a 17-run win over Surrey.
-
England
Adil Rashid to miss England’s India white-ball series to make Mecca pilgrimage
Rashid has found it difficult to make the pilgrimage due to timings and commitments.
-
England
Jack Leach pleased with good luck but admits freak dismissal no collector’s item
New Zealand closed the opening day of the final Test against England on 225 for five after Henry Nicholls was dismissed in bizarre fashion.
-
England
Stuart Broad stars on day one for England but error of judgement proves costly
Broad kept a week of celebrations going strong by striking before a run had been added and followed with the key scalp of Kane Williamson.
-
England
Matthew Mott expects England whitewash to ‘light fire’ under captain Eoin Morgan
Mott made an ideal start in his new role with a 3-0 one-day clean sweep of the Netherlands.