No queiro bro,
Everything u said is absolutely correct. Honestly for the first time I feel I am going to have discussion with someone who knows facts and figures in depth. Its going to be a joy coz that give me opportunity to learn something more.
Well, Tendulkars career can be best described in two phases. The first phase, which was pre 1999, when he literally butchered bowlers. Post 2000, he changed his game altogether and became more of the accumulator, rather than the attacking batsman he was. He says the team needed him to play a more responsible role, since there was Sehwag who could score at 5 runs an over. It always puzzles me to see why Sachin doesn't play like he played in 90s.
Yes, none of Sachin's test innings are in Wisden top 100 best test innings while u have 277, 153 n.o., of Lara and a few more.
I have always believed that Lara was surreal, he was GOD. just he was too moody. He never changed his game. Always attacked, always played his own game. Never ever he let a rookie or a great bowler dominate him.
So if its Lara vs Sachin, Lara is always better for me ...but Im sure u would agree he lost his plot in mid 90s. After he scored that 501 and 375, he went into a steep downfall and only came back in early 2000.
Sachin, in his new Avataar, has been so vulnerable that so often a new comer takes his wickets..which is unbelievable.
But for the whole decade of 90s, ever since he debuted in international cricket, he played magnificiently against any opposition, any ground, any attack. I still feel his 136 against Pak in Chennai test in 98, his 116 in Perth in 91/92 are two of the very special innings that deserves a place in Wisden top 100.
Shane Warne is obviously a better critic than me or you, he is Wisden's top 5 cricketers of the century. When he puts Sachin at no.1, that means he knows what he is saying. When Donald says Sachin was the best he ever bowled to (obviously in early 2000), that makes sense. I have seen both the players grow, I have observed both the players careers. never seen the Don bat, but for sure if Lara had done justice to his talent he would have broken so many records that no one could have ever dreamed of scaling them.
Top cricketers are always divided when they are asked about best batsmen, a lot give edge to Lara while some say Tendulkar is the best. But one thing for sure, they all have both Lara and Sachin in top 2, and nobody ever comes close.
No queiro, before my interest in cricket waned, I think I m so fortunate to have witnessed cricket in an era (90s) that there were 2 of the best batsmen ever (Sachin,Lara), 2 of the best spinners (Warnie, Murali), the best left arm fast bowler ever (Wasim Akram ), Ferocious fast bowler in his early days who literally crushed toes (Waqar), all the Pakistani great batsmen (Inzamaam, Saeed),and some real high voltage cricket in 90s.
Today, cricket doesn't give me a kick. U know what since Damien Martin retired, how many batsmen are there who just catch ur eyes with subtle artistry of their silky strokes, a la Azharuddin or mark Waugh, Gilchrist gone, with Saeed and Inzy and Wasim gone, this Pak team looks a club side, the less said about Bangladesh and Zim, the better, India will have a uphill task when Sachin, Dravid, and laxman retire. Cricket's best era seems to have gone for ever with no genuine fast bowlers like Walsh,Ambrose, Allan Donald left ( Barring Brett Lee).
Well, so lets celebrate the end days of the master Batsmen off our era, Sachin Tendulkar, who along with LARA, gave us so many great memories and great times with their feat on the cricket field.