Syntax for lambda library object members

The syntax I am using for accessing object members is really very obtuse: struct X {int i; }; vector<X> vec_X; ... std::sort(vec_X.begin(), vec_X.end(), &_1->*&X::i < &_2->*&X::i ) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This must be a worthwhile basis for an entry into the obsfucated c++ context! Is the syntax required because the . operator cannot be overloaded? Leo