No quiero,

I am a die hard Lara fan, but at the same time just keeping cricket in mind I wanna debate with u on few things.

Well I hope u agree that we were fortunate to see Lara and Sachin play at the same time. See how they regard each other. They consider other GREATS and themselves mortals.

Until 1990, the game had seen either attacking players like Viv ( who had such good hand eye coordination that few clitches in his technique, like a lot of cross batted shots never caused a problem for him..not before he was forced to retire just before 92 world cup) or very compact players like Sunil Gavaskar ( don't go for his 36 n.o. , see his record against West Indies of that time, he scored runs at will, never wore a helmet, and to me he was one of the finest opening batsman ever). He is very highly regarded by Andy Roberts, Marshall, Croft, and almost everyone.

Things changed when this kid Tendulkar came up. He was just so talented and brave. He was knocked down by a Waqar bouncer but still batted to make a fighting 50. Hit Qadir for many sixes and then came the hundred at Perth in 91-92, one of the finest hundreds u can ever see..if u truly understand cricket.

Lara started at 1,2, and sometimes 3..but his moment came in 94, when the world took notice of him for 375 and 501 n.o.

Then debate started who is better?

First of all it's not Lara's or Tendulkar's fault that there team was so weak and in fact WI was declining. In 90s India would go to ashes if Sachin got out. Same with Lara, after Hooper left Lara became almost one man army ( not discounting Chanderpaul and others.).

We r not talking about mere statistics here. We r talking about the skills they had, the influence they had on world cricket. Lara and Tendulkar captured imagination of cricket lovers in 90s like never before. Bevan may have higher ODI average, Ponting may make more 100s, but ask any cricket pundit, a cricketer, or anyone who follows cricket closely..these guys are ONCE IN A GENERATION CRICKETERS.

Sachin was more consistent. Lara more mercurial. But what Lara has achieved and the rate he would score runs were breathtaking. Tendulkar..if u have witnessed his game in 90s..would always appear if he was playing in totally different wicket than others. Sachin changed his style after 2003..he became more defensive..perhaps due to injury. But Lara never changed his style. Sachin more cautious, Lara more devastating. Sachin more technically compact, Lara more flamboyant and more elegant also.

To me watching Lara bat was one of the greatest pleasure I could get from sports. Mesmerizing to say the least.