ABU DHABI: India’s Sachin Tendulkar recently broke one more record in his illustrious career which resulted in some of the game’s experts rating him as the greatest batsman of all time. However, another cricket great Steve Waugh feels Sir Don Bradman remains the greatest batsman ever to have played the game.
The former Australian captain, who is here in the United Arab Emirates capital for the Laureus World Sports Awards, yesterday told The Peninsula his compatriot Bradman was the number one batsman.
“Don Bradman is the greatest, there is no debate,” Waugh said when asked whether the Indian was the greatest after he scored a record 200 not out against South Africa in a One-Day International last month in the Indian city of Gwalior.
The 36-year-old Tendulkar, who has been playing at the international level since 1989, has virtually broken all batting records and last month became the first batsman in the history of ODIs to score a double hundred.
After that record breaking feat, former greats heaped praise on the right-handed batsman. Ex-England skipper Nasser Hussain rated Tendulkar above Bradman after the Mumbai batsman became the first one to score a double hundred in an ODI.
“I have never liked comparisons between great players, but after this incredible game it must be said — Sachin Tendulkar is the greatest batsman of all time,” Hussain had written in his column for The Daily Mail newspaper.
Waugh, who is regarded as one of the best captains to have played the game, added: “Don is the number one and then the rest and Tendulkar amongst the rest, probably is as good as anyone. Don averaged 99 in Tests and the next best is 60. So, legitimately he may be the second best cricketer to have played the game. But people will say so for Gary Sobers, WG Grace too, so it is difficult to say.”
Bradman ended his 52-Test career with an astounding average of 99.94 and is regarded as the greatest batsman by many.
Tendulkar is the leading run scorer in Tests and ODIs and also holds the record for most international centuries.
Former Indian captain Kapil Dev, when asked to rate Tendulkar, said the Mumbai batsman was the best in the modern era.
“He (Tendulkar) is the greatest ambassador of the game. He has shown others how to play, setting up targets for himself and achieving them. It is amazing for someone who started at the age for 15 to carry on and teach a thing or two to the young generation. He is the greatest batsman of modern cricket. The way he has conducted himself on the and off the field without any controversy, he is definitely one of the greatest of the game,” Kapil, who captained his country to 1983 World Cup victory, said yesterday.
Former South African captain Shaun Pollock, said Tendulkar easily fits into the list of one of the greatest players.
“It is very difficult to decide who is the greatest,” Pollock said.
“Well, Tendulkar is definitely one of the greatest, there is no doubt in that but I don’t think you can make a decision as he is the one. I mean he has been great for the game. He has been a fantastic performer and he has achieved many things like the ODI 200. No one can understand how much pressure he is under. The responsibility that he has on his shoulders is huge. There was no controversy and he is still passionate about the game and so he should be complimented for that,” Pollock added
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