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Sachin Tendulkar’s scintillating century against England in their World Cup clash in Bangalore overnight, will renew claims the Indian maestro is the greatest batsman of all time.
The 120 off 115 chalked up Tendulkar’s 98th international century – 51 in Tests, and 47 in ODIs – an incredible stat, unparalleled in the history of the grand old game.
Despite the well-earned accolades, there’s an overrider to the Tendulkar tag that should read the greatest after another little bloke – Donald George Bradman.
There’s the “Don” – and daylight.
We can only compare the two champion batsmen at Test level, ODIs didn’t surface until 23 years after Bradman hung up his blazing bat.
And any comparison must recognise Bradman played in an era of uncovered wickets, there was no more difficult an ask in Test cricket than batting on a “sticky” – a minefield.
Just as importantly, while Tendulkar’s stellar 21-year career on covered wickets has been uninterrupted, Bradman missed eight years in the prime of his career during World War II.
Yet it’s still the “Don” – and daylight. Here’s why:
* Test average: Bradman 99.94, the next closest is Jonathan Trott 61.53, Tendular 56.94.
* Bradman averaged over a 100 in seven different calendar years – Tendulkar in two.
* A ton for Bradman every 1.79 Tests – Tendulkar every 3.47.
* A ton for Bradman every 2.41 Test innings – Tendulkar every 5.06.
* Double centuries – Bradman 12 from 70 completed innings – Tendulkar six from 258.
* Triple centuries – Bradman two, shared with Chris Gayle, Brian Lara, and Virender Sehwag – Tendulkar none.
* Bradman scored centuries in six successive Tests – Tendular scored two in successive Tests six times.
* Fastest to 1,000 Test runs – Herbert Sutcliffe, and Everton Weekes in 12 Tests, Bradman 13, Tendulkar 28.
* Fastest to 2,000 – Bradman in 22 Tests, closest George Headley 32, Tendulkar 44.
* Fastest to 3,000 – Bradman 33, closest Weekes 51, Tendulkar 67.
* Fastest to 4,000 – Bradman 48, closest Sutcliffe 68, Tendulkar 86.
* Fastest to 5,000 – Bradman 56, closest Jack Hobbs 91, Tendulkar 103.
* And fastest to 6,000 – Bradman 68, closest Gary Sobers 111, Tendulkar 120.
While the run-scoring machine Tendulkar’s still going strong with 14,692 runs from 177 Tests , that’s where the comparison ends with Bradman’s career 6,996 runs, from 80 Tests.
And so does the argument of who is the greatest batsman of all time.
Donald George Bradman.
Then daylight.