Can8217;t be absolute best anymore but neither can Sachin: Ponting

8220;I think what Mark had to say was that he probably didn8217;t think I could get any better from where I am at the moment,8221; Ponting was quoted as saying by 8216;The Daily Telegraph8217;.

8220;It wasn8217;t so much about saying that I8217;m past it. He just thought that it was going to be hard for me to get back to my absolute best again,and that8217;s probably right.

8220;I think there is a period in every batsman8217;s life where they are playing at their absolute best. Even Sachin Tendulkar now,even though he8217;s scored nine hundreds last year,was probably not at his absolute best,either,8221; he added.

8220;So what Mark said may be right,but by no means do I think I can8217;t play at the level I want to play at. And if I can8217;t play at that level,I won8217;t play the game anyway. I have said that for a long time,8221; said the 35-year-old right-hander,who has been rested from Australia8217;s ongoing ODI series against India.

Ponting said he merely has to perform consistently to keep his place in the side.

8220;So I have just got to be a good,consistent contributor in the No. 3 role,and be the best captain and leader I can be for the next few months,and we will see what effect it has on the team,8221; he said.