When the sun sets in Mumbai on November 18, that will be Sachin Tendulkar’s final day in creams.
It will be the end of the second Test against the Windies, fittingly Sachin’s 200th cap, and in Sachin’s home city – the perfect finale to a stunning career.
No-one has played 200 Tests and no-one has scored more Test and ODI runs – Sachin owns the lot.
It’s taken the 40-year-old 24 years to accumulate, from the tender age of 16. That’s longevity for you.
Cold hard stats are one thing, but when you compare Tendulkar with other greats, the stats have more meaning.
The best guide is the list of contenders for the fastest run-getters to milestones.
To 1,000 Test runs – Everton Weekes and Herbert Sutcliffe 12 digs, Don Bradman 13, Ricky Ponting 27, and Tendulkar 28,
2,000 – Bradman 22, George Headley 32, Tendulkar 44, and Ponting 50.
3,000 – Bradman 33, Weekes 51, Tendulkar 67, Ponting 77l
4,000 – Bradman 48, Sutcliffe 51, Tendulkat 86, Ponting 96,
5,000 – Bradman 56, Jack Hobbs 91, Tendulkar 103, Ponting 110.
6,000 – Bradman 68, Gary Sobers 111, Tendulkar 120, Ponting 125 – the Don bowed out there after his final-dig duck at The Oval in 1948.
7,000 – Wally Hammond 131, Tendulkar 136, Ponting 145.
8,000 – Kumar Sangakkara 152, Tendulkar 154, Ponting 165,
9,000 – Sangakkara 152, Ponting 177, Tendulkar 179,
10,000 – Brian Lara 195, Tendulkar 195, Ponting 196.
11,000 – Lara 213, Ponting 222, Tendulkar 223.
12,000 – Tendulkar 247, Ponting 247, Javques Kallis 249.
13,000 – Tendulkar 266, Kallis 269, Ponting 275.
From there Sachin’s been on his own, passing 14,000 in his 279th dig, and 15,000 in exactly his 300th.
So what do those stats tell us?
The greatest batsman of all time is the Don, undisputed. His average of 99.94 will never be surpassed, especially on uncovered wickets, and bigger grounds not roped off as they are today.
And the quick men, with the back-foot rule that allowed drag, meant most of them bowled from 18 yards.
Having said that, Sachin Tendulkar is the greatest of the modern day batsmen by sheer weight of numbers.
He’s had an absorbing battle with Ponting over the years, but now the ‘Punter’ has retired, there’s no-one left who can bridge the gap.
It was said early in Tendulkar’s career that he could he be another Sunil Gavaskar. He’s left Sunny well in his wake.
The next question is will Cheteshwar Pujara be the next Sachin Tendulkar?
He’s started well, averaging 65.55 from 22 digs with four Test tons and three half centuries.
Pujara was faster than both Tendulkar and Gavaskar to 1,000 Test runs – Pujara 18 digs, Gavaskar 21, and Tendulkar 28.
But there’s a long long way to go, and I won’t be around to see the result.
I make one prediction, no batsman will ever score 100 international 100s as Sachin has done – 51 Tests, and 49 ODIs.
The closest is Ricky Ponting with a combined 71, and Jacques Kallis with 61, both a binocular distance behind.
Sufficient to say Sachin Tendulkar has been an ornament to the grand old game, and will be sorely missed.
He’s been a once in a lifetime batsman, just as The Don was before him.
And it’s been a privilege to watch him perform for 24 years.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
When a player retires no one splits their good years from bad years. They are judged on their overall stats and performances. From his current stats he is still majorly overrated.
ChrisUK
Guest
It's a fact that he became Anderson's bunny. And as ever with him you need to separate the Bad Jimmy of the years up to 2008 when his action was wrecked, and his record since as Good Jimmy.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
Why are you mentioning James "Overrated" Anderson. His average is just 0.6 of a run better than Mitchell Johnson's.
Brendon the 1st
Guest
Wow, satire doesn't go down well when talking about Sachin does it, especially in India. Funny stuff
Brendon the 1st
Guest
He does seem like a good guy, I'll check that out on YouTube, ta
Damngoodoval
Guest
Thanks for that Chris. Amusing read. Quite how so many indian fans didn't see the sarcasm in that is beyond me. It made the news in India as an attack on ST!
ChrisUK
Guest
Ahhh, you'll love this. An article taking the pi$$ on just those lines is well worth a read for the outraged Indian comments below. It's side splitting funny how they don't get its a wind up: http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/jonathanliew/100018018/sachin-tendulkar-underachiever-flat-track-bully-phone-hacker-demolishing-the-myth-of-his-greatness/
ChrisUK
Guest
He more or less played Australia on his own last time they were down didn't he? He has a surprisingly poor record against England; his century over here was a very popular one, as he finally showed us what he's made of. Did you ever catch his Spirit of Cricket lecture he did a couple of years ago? Set aside an hour and watch it on YouTube. It is astonishing. He's as classy off the field as on it. He's not just a current favourite of mine, he's one of my all time favourites.
Damngoodoval
Guest
Yeah the don was much better. How many ashes tons did tindelker get???
Adam
Guest
He is probably quite handy around a squad for guidance to other players
Adam
Guest
T20, it's just not cricket
Adam
Guest
Steve Waugh to bat for my life
Adam
Guest
Exactly
Adam
Guest
And if Don Bradman was a professional I'm sure his game would also improve beyond his natural talents too. Can not just say if bowlers were pro. without allowing him the same courtesy
Adam
Guest
I highly doubt it was the same as Tendulkar used. High quality batsmen have custom shaped bats then just slap on the sponsor stickers as required
Brendon the 1st
Guest
Sangakarra is the most under rated batsmen in the world and one of my favourites, bet there's not this hullabaloo when retires
Brendon the 1st
Guest
The bloke was a great batsmen, but I'll never forgive him for the last tour, refused to do interviews with Aussie journo's, I thought he'd just stopped doing interviews but then he's doing them with Indian journo's on the Internet, so he treated the Aussie punters quite badly and then we gave him in OAM!! As I said, great batsmen, but that's about it, no where near Bradman btw to suggest otherwise is laughable, he's arguably only just better than his contemporaries, never mind the Don.
Bobby
Guest
Test
Bobby
Guest
How long (days)did tests in bradmans time go on for? When did the 5 day teat era start?
Viren
Guest
You know they're human. I know they're human. The hallmark of a champion sportsperson is that THEY refuse to recognize human limits.