Tendulkar’s unique milestones

By Kersi Meher-Homji

Call it a coincidence. Sachin Tendulkar’s 50th Test century came in the Centurion Test!

Although India lost by an innings to South Africa, Tendulkar’s gritty 111 not out in the second innings and his century stand with skipper MS Dhoni will be remembered for a long time.

Tendulkar has reached many unique landmarks in international cricket.

Test cricket:

He became the only one to hit 50 tons in 175 Tests. Next best is Australia’s Ricky Ponting (39 in 151). Also the Indian is the only one to amass 14,513 runs (at 56.91). Next best is Ponting, 12,333 runs at 53.85.

One-day internationals (ODIs) including World Cups:

Tendulkar is the only one to hit a double century (200 not out against South Africa at Gwalior this February). Also he is the only one to register 40 centuries (46 in 442 ODIs), next best Ponting, 29 in 352.

Tendulkar’s other highs in ODIs:

  • Amassed 17,598 runs at 45.12 in 442 matches). The next best is Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya, 13,428 runs at 32.43 in 444 matches and Ponting 13,082 at 42.75 in 352.
  • Registered 1700 runs in 50-overs World Cups (1796 at 57.93 in 36 matches), next best Ponting (1537 at 48.03 in 39).

Combining Test and ODI statistics, Tendulkar’s achievements are staggering:

  • Recorded more than 90 centuries (96 in 617 internationals), next best Ponting again, 68 in 489 internationals.
  • Amassed 32,111 runs, next best Ponting way behind with 25,415

Thus Tendulkar is 6696 runs and 28 centuries ahead of the next most prolific batsman, Ponting, in international cricket.

Sublime as a batsman and a likeable person, Sachin Tendulkar deserves all the accolades he receives. Here is Tendulkar in numbers:

Matches Runs Aver. Highest score 100s 50s Wickets Catches
Tests 175 14,513 56.91 248* 50 59 44 106
ODIs 442 17,598 45.12 200* 46 93 154 134
T20 I 1 10 10.00 10 0 0 1 1
FC 277 23,259 59.63 248* 76 105 69 174

* = not out.

By runs scored, 8  batsmen have registerd 10,000 or more runs in Tests. How do their figures compare with the greatest batsman of them all, Sir Donald Bradman’s gold standard? Here are their statistics:

Top 4 Batsmen (with 10,000 Test runs) compared with Bradman (as at 25 December 2010)

Batsman Country Tests Runs Average Top score 100s 50s
Don Bradman Aus 52 6,996 99.94 334 29 13
Sachin Tendulkar Ind. 175 14,513 56.91 248* 50 59
Ricky Ponting Aus. 151 12,333 53.85 257 39 56
Rahul Dravid Ind. 148 12,000 53.09 270 31 59
Brian Lara WI 131 11,953 52.88 400* 34 48
Jacques Kallis SAf 143 11,650 56.82 201* 38 54
Allan Border Aus. 156 11,174 50.56 205 27 63
Steve Waugh Aus. 168 10,927 51.06 200 32 50
Sunil Gavaskar Ind. 125 10,122 51.12 236* 34 45

Bold figures indicate a record.        * = not out.

Tendulkar has played most number of Tests, scored most runs and hit most centuries. Lara’s unbeaten 400 remains a Test record. Border has made most fifties, 63.

It is interesting that out of eight to score 10,000 Test runs, three are Indians, with Gavaskar being the first to reach this milestone.

Bradman’s batting average of 99.94 will remain supreme in decades to come. Also his century per Test ratio of 0.56 (29 in 52) is twice as good as Tendulkar’s of 0.28 (50 in 175).

So comparison between greats based on statistics alone is futile. Let’s say Bradman was the supremo in his time and Tendulkar is the maestro of this decade.

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