Australian captain Ricky Ponting says he can no longer be at his "absolute best" with the bat but that should hardly be a surprise or concern as even an icon like Sachin Tendulkar is not at his peak anymore.

Responding to former Australian captain Mark Taylor's comments that his "best is behind him", Ponting said the assessment is correct but that does not mean he would become ineffective. "I think what Mark had to say was that he probably didn't think I could get any better from where I am at the moment," Ponting was quoted as saying by 'The Daily Telegraph'.