Tendulkar’s record will stand the test of time: Lara
By IANSTuesday, January 18, 2011
NEW DELHI - Batting legend Brian Lara Tuesday said Sachin Tendulkar’s deluge of international records will remain unsurpassed.
Tendulkar, 37, has 51 Test centuries and 46 ODI centuries, highest by any cricketer, and will be a vital cog of the Indian batting at the the World Cup, which is going to be his sixth and last.
“Tendulkar was a child prodigy, playing the game at 16 years of age. At 37, he is still setting records, which I do not think will be surpassed by any cricketer with more Twenty20 matches and less of ODI and Test cricket likely to be played. There are no superlatives to describe Tendulkar. He is a genius and an outstanding player in all parts of world,” said Lara, who was here for a cricket clinic at Feroze Shah Kotla Stadium.
“It has been great to rub shoulders with him and to be put in the same bracket as Tendulkar,” said the West Indian.
Lara maintained that Tendulkar is the best batsman of this era and said he admired his longevity in game.
“Tendulkar is the best batsman. I have not seen (Don) Bradman play but I do respect him, his batting average being 99.94. It is tough to compare players. I am telling from what I have seen and I admire what Tendulkar has done in over 20 years with injuries included.
Lara, who holds the record of highest Test score, a 400 not out against England in 2004 at St Johns, Antigua, said his record will be broken in the future.
“My record, I am sure, will be broken. Chris Gayle came quite near to breaking it against Sri Lanka. I will place my bet on Gayle and Tendulkar. But anyone who bats on first, second and third position and is an attacking batsman is likely to break it,” he said.
