Can Alastair Cook break Sachin Tendulkar's record for most Test runs?

[shaz619]

Tendulkar being soft played mickey mouse cricket, mentally strong cricketers not only endure the intensity of Test cricket but also the gruelling county season. Then again can't blame him for skipping the Ranji Trophy, it's mostly for circus clowns and he was greedy to make money from the limited overs schedule.

 

[rashmin]

Tendulkar being soft played mickey mouse cricket, mentally strong cricketers not only endure the intensity of Test cricket but also the gruelling county season. Then again can't blame him for skipping the Ranji Trophy, it's mostly for circus clowns and he was greedy to make money from the limited overs schedule.

Do you even think what are you talking about? It means when Sachin played mickey mouse cricket, all the international cricketers playing with him or against him were also involved in playing the same kind of cricket....lol. He can not play mickey mouse cricket by himself.... there must be 10 other cricketers in his team and 11 in opposition team.

 

[HitWicket]

If the intensity, standards and importance of County cricket was even remotely close to ODI cricket it wouldn't be languishing where it is right now with generally a Old man and his dog witnessing action. Sorry but there is absolutely no comparison at all. And just for sh!ts and giggles Tendulkar played a ton of T20 Cricket.

There's absolutely no comparison in the workload between playing regular 4 day first class cricket compared to a few one day series in a year? Alright then...

 

[bujhee kom]

Neither do I see the rationale in pretending that playing only ODIs does not offer advantage for Cook.

I never argued that it didn't.

 

[JoniInsafian]

No he will score 14 234 runs and retire...

 

[Romali_rotti]

Great double 100 by Cook just when everyone thought he was done.... I personally dont think he will beat SRTs record but if anyone can, it is Cook..

 

[giri26]

Records are meant to be broken and it will be a great achievement for Cook if he gets there.

 

[Tusker]

I never argued that it didn't.

Will you respond to the main arguments in Post#472 or you are going to get hung up on this ?

 

[Bilal7]

So much has been made of Sachin's quantity of runs and hundreds that losing the top spot in either of these categories would really harm his legacy.

Unlike Lara, he wasn't an artist and destroyer of the best attacks. Unlike Ponting, he wasn't a destructive match-winner. Unlike Kallis, he wasn't a consistent stalwart. He was a runs accumulator and hundreds collector. Cook being better than him at these two things would be devastating.

Before some genius points to blah blah blah Wisden, blah blah blah ESPN: This is why you don't rate players until the end of their careers. Sachin was definitely poised to become the best batsman of all time, back in 2001, but guess what? He fell well short and became renowned for his hunger and selfishness, instead of masterful batting.

Compare the stock of Umar Akmal and Mohammad Amir from seven-eight years ago to now.

 

[austerlitz]

So much has been made of Sachin's quantity of runs and hundreds that losing the top spot in either of these categories would really harm his legacy.

Unlike Lara, he wasn't an artist and destroyer of the best attacks. Unlike Ponting, he wasn't a destructive match-winner. Unlike Kallis, he wasn't a consistent stalwart. He was a runs accumulator and hundreds collector. Cook being better than him at these two things would be devastating.

Before some genius points to blah blah blah Wisden, blah blah blah ESPN: This is why you don't rate players until the end of their careers. Sachin was definitely poised to become the best batsman of all time, back in 2001, but guess what? He fell well short and became renowned for his hunger and selfishness, instead of masterful batting.

What nonsense.Tendulkar in the 90s was a destroyer of best bowling attacks,even at age 39 the old veteran scored 2 centuries versus a rampaging steyn in south africa and secured india's versus series draw in SA.
He was more consistent and minnow basher kallis despite 2 brutal injuries.
Ponting's peak lasted for what 5 years,cushioned by the best team in memory.He was mediocre when he began and mediocre when he ended.Only lara is comparable.
As for being an artist ,tendulkar was always one of the game's greatest artists.

 

[Ab Fan]

So much has been made of Sachin's quantity of runs and hundreds that losing the top spot in either of these categories would really harm his legacy.

<B>Unlike Lara, he wasn't an artist and destroyer of the best attacks. Unlike Ponting, he wasn't a destructive match-winner. Unlike Kallis, he wasn't a consistent stalwart. He was a runs accumulator and hundreds collector. Cook being better than him at these two things would be devastating.</B>

Before some genius points to blah blah blah Wisden, blah blah blah ESPN: This is why you don't rate players until the end of their careers. Sachin was definitely poised to become the best batsman of all time, back in 2001, but guess what? He fell well short and became renowned for his hunger and selfishness, instead of masterful batting.

Compare the stock of Umar Akmal and Mohammad Amir from seven-eight years ago to now.

You are wrong there. Tendulkar was as much a destroyer of great bowling attacks as Lara. Ask Warne, Donald, Ambrose, Pollock. Lara has got zero hundreds against any genuine pace bowlers attacks which is of quality. And in terms of artistry, I recall his upper cut vs Lee in Perth was one of the most artistic shot I saw and then add to that his straight drives and inside outs vs Murali and Warne.

Kallis was consistent stalwart no doubt but so was Tendulkar. Are you saying, Tendulkar wasn't consistent enough. Him and Kallis were easily the two most consistent batsmen from their era.

Cook is better - in which two things? Dont say better bowling attacks or consistency! Neither is he an aggressive scorer like Tendulkar and well lets not bring odis.

There is no comparison between the two. Cook is an inconsistent version of Kallis IMO who is good to save matches.

 

[James]

Anyone who watched every ball of Tendulkar’s innings in South Africa against Steyn, Morkel etc (think it was in Cape Town, 140-odd?) would agree that he was in fact an artist, as well as destructive. I have seen a lot of Test innings and that was one of the best Test innings that I have ever seen.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Tendulkar was at his peak in 1998. Only player to have hit 50 sixes in all formats prior to 2000 in history. After 2000 Afridi did twice before T20 era. Not even Jayasuriya has done that. The following match was a memorable match where he faced Donald/Mcgrath

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C72dVXdk_E8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDU2k8pkh90

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

This thread has converted into something else now.

I think Sachinistas should grow a think skin and not get triggered each time someone mentions SRT.

 

[Proactive_]

This thread has converted into something else now.

I think Sachinistas should grow a think skin and not get triggered each time someone mentions SRT.

You got to understand that the propaganda that the media instills in the minds of common folk with regards to cricketing heroes is just something else here. Questioning them would be almost akin to questioning Kim Jong Un in North Korea. I remember in 09-10, when Orkut was pretty popular, I made a post on the main Sachin Tendulkar page that Ponting had been a better batsman than Tendulkar in the decade 2000-09, 5 minutes later.. I got banned without notice!

That's why if you're on social media, now you'd see tons of Indian fans polluting the Internet with their Kohli worshipping, even on posts that have nothing to do with him like Steve Smith scoring a hundred. It's just a toxic environment which has built up over the course of the past two decades resulting in a significant portion of fans love to live vicariously through the cricketing stars of the country for some reason. That's why some of these so called demi gods take their career for granted and carry on for years after entering their terminal decline chasing records like Tendulkar did, knowing fully well that they can never be dropped.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

You got to understand that the propaganda that the media instills in the minds of common folk with regards to cricketing heroes is just something else here. Questioning them would be almost akin to questioning Kim Jong Un in North Korea. I remember in 09-10, when Orkut was pretty popular, I made a post on the main Sachin Tendulkar page that Ponting had been a better batsman than Tendulkar in the decade 2000-09, 5 minutes later.. I got banned without notice!

That's why if you're on social media, now you'd see tons of Indian fans polluting the Internet with their Kohli worshipping, even on posts that have nothing to do with him like Steve Smith scoring a hundred. It's just a toxic environment which has built up over the course of the past two decades resulting in a significant portion of fans love to live vicariously through the cricketing stars of the country for some reason. That's why some of these so called demi gods take their career for granted and carry on for years after entering their terminal decline chasing records like Tendulkar did, knowing fully well that they can never be dropped.

And what Sachinistas did to poor Sharapova's Facebook page that was embarrassing for whole Cricketing community. Even SRT himself would've been embarrassed by it.

As they say, no batsman is perfect. SRT ain't either. Neither was Bradman or Viv or Lara etc.

 

[Proactive_]

And what Sachinistas did to poor Sharapova's Facebook page that was embarrassing for whole Cricketing community. Even SRT himself would've been embarrassed by it.

As they say, no batsman is perfect. SRT ain't either. Neither was Bradman or Viv or Lara etc.

I'll tell you another tale.

Australia vs India, 3rd Test Perth 2012 : India continued it's dreadful performance getting bundled out for 160 on Day 1 and David Warner smashing a century on the same day itself. I tuned in to Times Now which is one of the major news channels here. There, a "renowned" sports journalist named Boria Majumdar and his cronies are sitting there lambasting the team.. they lambasted everyone.. especially guys like Dravid and Laxman.. asking them oldies to be dropped ASAP before the 4th Test itself, just humiliating them left right and center saying how they had betrayed the nation and what not.

But there was one name they couldn't dare to criticize.. they couldn't even dare to take his name.. and that was Sachin Tendulkar. A guy who had been consistently failing since the England Tour in search of that stupid 100th century. Not a single question was being asked for that 38 year old has been to be dropped and youngsters be blooded on the upcoming home season to prepare them for the next set of overseas tours. But NO. Can't do that here.. that guy is the "GOD" of cricket.

Just recently, Virat Kohli's marriage has been getting 100x more coverage than a 48 year old Viswantahan Anand's incredible victory in the World Rapid Chess Championship. A guy who became India's first Grandmaster in 1988 and has been India's top ranked chess player for 30 years, contributing just as much if not more to Indian sports than any cricketer his done in history. The mania around these cricketing demi gods is just nauseating here.

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

Do you even think what are you talking about? .....

He's an intelligent guy, and 99% of his words are for effect. He's managed to wind up everyone, even me who's been around for such a ling time and is by no means a Sachinista.

 

[Ab Fan]

You are wrong there. Tendulkar was as much a destroyer of great bowling attacks as Lara. <B>Ask Warne, Donald, Ambrose, Pollock</B>. Lara has got zero hundreds against any genuine pace bowlers attacks which is of quality. And in terms of artistry, I recall his upper cut vs Lee in Perth was one of the most artistic shot I saw and then add to that his straight drives and inside outs vs Murali and Warne.

Kallis was consistent stalwart no doubt but so was Tendulkar. Are you saying, Tendulkar wasn't consistent enough. Him and Kallis were easily the two most consistent batsmen from their era.

Cook is better - in which two things? Dont say better bowling attacks or consistency! Neither is he an aggressive scorer like Tendulkar and well lets not bring odis.

There is no comparison between the two. Cook is an inconsistent version of Kallis IMO who is good to save matches.

Dale Steyn- I forgot to add him.

 

[rashmin]

I'll tell you another tale.

Australia vs India, 3rd Test Perth 2012 : India continued it's dreadful performance getting bundled out for 160 on Day 1 and David Warner smashing a century on the same day itself. I tuned in to Times Now which is one of the major news channels here. There, a "renowned" sports journalist named Boria Majumdar and his cronies are sitting there lambasting the team.. they lambasted everyone.. especially guys like Dravid and Laxman.. asking them oldies to be dropped ASAP before the 4th Test itself, just humiliating them left right and center saying how they had betrayed the nation and what not.

But there was one name they couldn't dare to criticize.. they couldn't even dare to take his name.. and that was Sachin Tendulkar. A guy who had been consistently failing since the England Tour in search of that stupid 100th century. Not a single question was being asked for that 38 year old has been to be dropped and youngsters be blooded on the upcoming home season to prepare them for the next set of overseas tours. But NO. Can't do that here.. that guy is the "GOD" of cricket.

Just recently, Virat Kohli's marriage has been getting 100x more coverage than a 48 year old Viswantahan Anand's incredible victory in the World Rapid Chess Championship. A guy who became India's first Grandmaster in 1988 and has been India's top ranked chess player for 30 years, contributing just as much if not more to Indian sports than any cricketer his done in history. The mania around these cricketing demi gods is just nauseating here.

Can't be agreed more

 

[bujhee kom]

With due respect I dont need to use experts as crutches to figure out who is a better player between the three. Why? Because none of these so-called experts are amenable to providing answers to very difficult questions besides I know my cricket and I will give you proper Technical, Statistical and contextual explanations to back my views. Rest assured you will quietly walk away from the debate.



Most 50s and most 150s , Most Away runs and hundreds belong to Tendulkar. Tendulkar is one of those once in a lifetime players whom you can say that the record has a better value if he owns it. Like Harsha once responded to some peurile punk who wanted to take cheap shots at Tendulkar missing out on scoring a 100 at Lords. Harsha's epic response was who's loss is it then ?



You think Tendulkar only made runs in India ? He actually made more runs outside India than in India. And with due respect 2nd Inngs batting in India is much harder.

And please dont try to pretend that ODIs are all BullSh!t ....

All of those (most tons, away runs etc) are functions of playing the most Tests by far. That is also the context for the most runs. His average is not the highest nor tangibly better than others of that class. I already answered these points mate.

He was not a high impact Test winner. He was not the man to win a game from 30/3 chasing 300. Lara was that man. He does not have many (any?) *impact* records like most runs in a year (not in any given year but the record itself overall), nor most runs in a series of x matches to my knowledge.

 

[jnaveen1980]

All of those (most tons, away runs etc) are functions of playing the most Tests by far. That is also the context for the most runs. His average is not the highest nor tangibly better than others of that class. I already answered these points mate.

He was not a high impact Test winner. He was not the man to win a game from 30/3 chasing 300. Lara was that man. He does not have many (any?) *impact* records like most runs in a year (not in any given year but the record itself overall), nor most runs in a series of x matches to my knowledge.

Lara himself admitted "i don't want to score one big 100 and fail in other matches. I want to be more consistent like Tendulkar" These "high impact" "low impact" are perspective. Sachin's 155 on day 4 turning pitch at chennai against Warnie was very very high impact innings. He took to warne by playing against the turn. It set the tone for the rest of the series. Also check how many matches Lara is involved where WI has lost the match. He set some sort of record.

 

[Tusker]

All of those (most tons, away runs etc) are functions of playing the most Tests by far. That is also the context for the most runs. His average is not the highest nor tangibly better than others of that class. I already answered these points mate.

They are not. For example after 273 Test Inngs Cook has 32 Test hundreds when Tendulkar had already made 47 Test hundreds.

Next lets take the 150s ... cook is barely half way thru Tendulkars tally of 20 x 150s and he has already played 82% of all Test Cricket played by Tendulkar in terms of inngs.

If only Cricket was a sport played on spreadsheet. This is why I dont give a rats behind to what any expert says no matter what big name tag the said expert has. Such detailed analysis is not their forte nor do they have time for it.

He was not a high impact Test winner. He was not the man to win a game from 30/3 chasing 300. Lara was that man.

Reason ?

 

[austerlitz]

All of those (most tons, away runs etc) are functions of playing the most Tests by far. That is also the context for the most runs. His average is not the highest nor tangibly better than others of that class. I already answered these points mate.

He was not a high impact Test winner. He was not the man to win a game from 30/3 chasing 300. Lara was that man. He does not have many (any?) *impact* records like most runs in a year (not in any given year but the record itself overall), nor most runs in a series of x matches to my knowledge.

No Lara was never that man,he had just 2 test centuries ever in his career in second innings.He was never a great 'match winner' either.For those type of heroics look to steve waugh,laxman,gilchrist,sehwag.Lara's rep comes from that one 153,where he was very lucky twice and tendu's 136 was just as good minus the luck.

You talk about tendulkar 'impact'.
He saved his debut test series for India,drew against pakistan in pakistan 1989.
Top scorer throughout 90s .
Singlehandedly won 1998 home series vs australia.
2001 home series vs aussies ,century and top scorer in decider 3rd test.
2003-2004 drawn series in australia ,double century in decider test.
Top scorer of all teams in 2007-8 sydney controversy series which should have ended 1-1.Won the 2 VB series tournament finals that followed singlehanded with 1 century and 91(first odi series win on aussie soil,leaving out other ODi matchwinning feats)
2008 home series win vs aussies - Hundred in decider test match.
2007 India's 1-0 series win in England - Tendulkar 91 and top scorer in decider match.
2009 India 1-0 home series win vs England - Tendulkar unbeaten hundred in chase in decider.
2010 India 2-0 home win vs aussies - Tendulkar 100 and double hundred in those matches and top scorer series.
2010 India only ever series drawn in south africa - Tendu top scorer and 2 majestic hundreds at age 39.

And i haven't even counted the other home series contributions,this is just top off my head.Nor have i started on his ODI impact.You seem to have not followed indian cricket at all and just making comments on 'feel' and imaginery stats.

 

[jnaveen1980]

No Lara was never that man,he had just 2 test centuries ever in his career in second innings.He was never a great 'match winner' either.For those type of heroics look to steve waugh,laxman,gilchrist,sehwag.Lara's rep comes from that one 153,where he was very lucky twice and tendu's 136 was just as good minus the luck.

You talk about tendulkar 'impact'.
He saved his debut test series for India,drew against pakistan in pakistan 1989.
Top scorer throughout 90s .
Singlehandedly won 1998 home series vs australia.
2001 home series vs aussies ,century and top scorer in decider 3rd test.
2003-2004 drawn series in australia ,double century in decider test.
Top scorer of all teams in 2007-8 sydney controversy series which should have ended 1-1.Won the 2 VB series tournament finals that followed singlehanded with 1 century and 91(first odi series win on aussie soil,leaving out other ODi matchwinning feats)
2008 home series win vs aussies - Hundred in decider test match.
2007 India's 1-0 series win in England - Tendulkar 91 and top scorer in decider match.
2009 India 1-0 home series win vs England - Tendulkar unbeaten hundred in chase in decider.
2010 India 2-0 home win vs aussies - Tendulkar 100 and double hundred in those matches and top scorer series.
2010 India only ever series drawn in south africa - Tendu top scorer and 2 majestic hundreds at age 39.

And i haven't even counted the other home series contributions,this is just top off my head.Nor have i started on his ODI impact.You seem to have not followed indian cricket at all and just making comments on 'feel' and imaginery stats.

As a 17 year old his match saving 117 at old trafford is often overlooked.

 

[Romali_rotti]

As for Lara lost a lot - yes, cricket is a team sport. He played in a terrible WI team post 2000. He remained a giant.

Yeah SRT played on a very strong side with our fastest bowler Kumble and our best spinner Prasad for a lot of his career, while Lara played with Walsh, Ambrose and other quicks for most of his career. Awww poor Lara he had to play without Ambrose and Walsh after 2000 ....

 

[Abdullah719]

Alastair Cook targets 2019 Ashes but admits he could still quit at any point

Alastair Cook intends to continue with England into the 2019 Ashes but has said he might change his mind at any moment — just as he did when he was captain.

Cook is playing his 152nd Test here and has been cagey about his long-term future throughout the series, following a 12-year England career in which he has become one of the leading ever run-scorers.

Cook carried his bat for a record 244 in the drawn Test at Melbourne last week, which was not enough to save the Ashes but marked a spectacular return to form after he scored only 83 runs in his first six innings on tour.

Asked whether this Test would be his last against Australia, Cook said: “I don’t think so. The problem of this question is that I just do not know. It does take a lot of effort to perform playing for England.

It’s a huge amount of sacrifice and one day I might just wake up and say ‘Do you know what, I’m done with it?’ That’s kind of how I’ve lived my life.

“It happened with the captaincy — I woke up one morning in India right near the end (of England’s 2016-17 tour there) and knew I wouldn’t captain again, however tough a decision it was. I imagine it will be the same here.

“But the way I got through the first three games here, and the way I stayed strong, shows I’ve definitely got quite a lot of cricket left in me and that I want to carry on.

“It’s been a long tour. [We are] ready to go home but there is still another hard game of cricket to be played.”

Cook has never been dropped by England and whenever he has had a poor spell, he has usually responded with a big score precisely when he has needed to.

In 2010, Cook was probably one Test away from losing his place, and duly made a century against Pakistan at The Oval. That winter he managed to finish the 2010-11 Ashes campaign with 766 runs as England won the series 3-1 in Australia.

In 2017, it was feast or famine for Cook. He scored two double centuries, against West Indies at Edgbaston in August and at the MCG last week, but passed 50 in only two of his other 19 innings. He started 2018 with 39, out lbw on review to Josh Hazlewood.

Cook credits his ability to cope with the strain of international sport to his talent for music as a child. He told BT Sport: “If you play an instrument or perform in a choir from an early age, you can transfer the discipline you need to something else. You learn to handle the pressure of not being able to make a mistake.

“When you are singing on television or in front of a full cathedral, there is a bit of pressure there, but you get used to performing in front of people and it is the same thing with cricket. I’m quite good at getting all the external stuff out of my mind.

“For most of my career I have been quite consistent. In the last couple of years I’ve not been as consistent but when got I’ve got in I’ve gone quite big.”

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/cr...e-could-still-quit-at-any-point-a3731826.html

 

[DRsohail]

so he wil retire scoring 13 to 14k runs.

 

[Proactive_]

That's reasonable from Cook. No point chasing a useless record that is predicated on selfishness anyway. He has been one of the best openers of this generation and deserves to go out on a high rather than dragging on for years beyond his sell by date like the guy who currently holds the record did.

 

[pakistani pride]

That double will ensure he has another year.

 

[Justcrazy]

13 K runs at most , he will not break the record

 

[rashmin]

That's reasonable from Cook. No point chasing a useless record that is predicated on selfishness anyway. He has been one of the best openers of this generation and deserves to go out on a high rather than dragging on for years beyond his sell by date like the guy who currently holds the record did.

I hope Cook break all the records so some PPers can sleep peacefully everyday!!!

 

[Oligochaetes]

I hope Cook break all the records so some PPers can sleep peacefully everyday!!!

Cook should splash some water on his face and resolve to beat Aus in the next Ashes series instead of talking about retirement. These English players are sissies.

They should learn from Misbah and fight for their country as long as they possibly can. Not run away after defeats.

Only Tendulkar obsessed people (for and against) are bothered about Cook overtaking Sachin. The rest just want to watch exciting and competitive cricket.

 

[Test champion]

not possible now, his current form decline rapidly .time for retirement otherwise his legacy in danger.

 

[Khan12]

In terms of consistency, this thread is debatable as of now. But in terms of cricketing skills, Babar doesn't have a chance. Like someone said, KL Rahul has the potential to surpass even the great Tendulkar.

It's not hard to surpass Tendulkar as he played 200 tests and I am sure a lot of batsmens will break his record if they play the amount of matches he did. Cook might get there soon.

 

[giri26]

It's not hard to surpass Tendulkar as he played 200 tests and I am sure a lot of batsmens will break his record if they play the amount of matches he did. Cook might get there soon.

You just don't play 200 Tests. You get to play 200 Tests if you are good enough. Sachin not only scored 15921 runs, he also did it at an average of 53.78 with 51 hundreds. Cook needs 3800 runs to reach that number and has to at least play 83 more innings to get there, that is if he can manage to stay fit and keep his form going.

 

[Khan12]

You just don't play 200 Tests. You get to play 200 Tests if you are good enough. Sachin not only scored 15921 runs, he also did it at an average of 53.78 with 51 hundreds. Cook needs 3800 runs to reach that number and has to at least play 83 more innings to get there, that is if he can manage to stay fit and keep his form going.

With the current average of cook it won't be hard for him to break it. Lot of players were good enough to play 200 and could have easily gone past him sanga and kallis could have gone past him if they played 200 matches and could have had more centuries then him too.i am sure kholi could easily go past him if he plays that many matches.

 

[giri26]

With the current average of cook it won't be hard for him to break it. Lot of players were good enough to play 200 and could have easily gone past him sanga and kallis could have gone past him if they played 200 matches and could have had more centuries then him too.i am sure kholi could easily go past him if he plays that many matches.

They weren't that's the reason they did not. If they were good enough they would have played 200 Tests.

 

[par]

With the current average of cook it won't be hard for him to break it. Lot of players were good enough to play 200 and could have easily gone past him sanga and kallis could have gone past him if they played 200 matches and could have had more centuries then him too.i am sure kholi could easily go past him if he plays that many matches.

Not only players, even lot of cricket fans could have gone past Tendulkar if they played 200 matches.

 

[the_outsider]

With the current average of cook it won't be hard for him to break it. Lot of players were good enough to play 200 and could have easily gone past him sanga and kallis could have gone past him if they played 200 matches and could have had more centuries then him too.i am sure kholi could easily go past him if he plays that many matches.

Cook may or may not beat Sachin's test record. Kolhi is very likely to break his ODI record. But Kolhi can't break Sachin's test record and Cook isn't even good enough to play LOIs.

So you need 2 of the best players to compete with Sachin. That's how good he was. And longevity matters. Not a single batsman by himself is capable of achieving what Sachin has done across formats by himself.

Some silly comments here about how anyone can score so much runs after playing 200 matches. Well who is stopping them? If they can't play 200 matches it means that they were not good enough to play for that long.

 

[Khan12]

Cook may or may not beat Sachin's test record. Kolhi is very likely to break his ODI record. But Kolhi can't break Sachin's test record and Cook isn't even good enough to play LOIs.

So you need 2 of the best players to compete with Sachin. That's how good he was. And longevity matters. Not a single batsman by himself is capable of achieving what Sachin has done across formats by himself.

Some silly comments here about how anyone can score so much runs after playing 200 matches. Well who is stopping them? If they can't play 200 matches it means that they were not good enough to play for that long.

The reason why Sachin played 200 is he started at 16. Both kallis and sanga would have easily gone past him which hurts a lot of indians. Unfortunately they can't swat the bitter truth. Cook is well on it's way to beat his test record as long as keep his form.

 

[Khan12]

Not only players, even lot of cricket fans could have gone past Tendulkar if they played 200 matches.

And you will be the first one.

 

[Khan12]

They weren't that's the reason they did not. If they were good enough they would have played 200 Tests.

They both had better average then Tendulkar but yeah they weren't good enough.

 

[par]

And you will be the first one.

Definitely. If I had played 200 matches.

 

[cricketjoshila]

The reason why Sachin played 200 is he started at 16. Both kallis and sanga would have easily gone past him which hurts a lot of indians. Unfortunately they can't swat the bitter truth. Cook is well on it's way to beat his test record as long as keep his form.

What stops other players to start playing test cricket at 16?

Why didnt they go past Tendulkar? Both Kallis and Sanga are a notch below Tendulkar in batsmanship.

Let Cook beat it.

The bitter truth is that Tendulkar causes immense amount of heart burn for people like you. I actually enjoy it.

 

[cricketjoshila]

They both had better average then Tendulkar but yeah they weren't good enough.

Younis Khan and MoYo have better avg than Viv Richards, where they as good as Viv? Not even close.

 

[Mamoon]

The reason why Sachin played 200 is he started at 16. Both kallis and sanga would have easily gone past him which hurts a lot of indians. Unfortunately they can't swat the bitter truth. Cook is well on it's way to beat his test record as long as keep his form.

What people don’t get - or refuse to get - is that there is a reason why Tendulkar started at 16.

99% of the players are barely good enough for first-class cricket at that age, but Tendulkar was showing his class at the highest level against legendary bowlers. It is unheard of, and we haven’t see anything like that since.

If Kallis and Sangakkara were good enough at 16, they would have made an impact. It is not Tendulkar’s problem that the others did not have the talent to play international cricket at the age of 16.

The bitter truth is that no other player in history has had the ability and skill to play 200 Tests. A bitter truth that we are not willing to accept.

 

[Khan12]

What stops other players to start playing test cricket at 16?

Why didnt they go past Tendulkar? Both Kallis and Sanga are a notch below Tendulkar in batsmanship.

Let Cook beat it.

The bitter truth is that Tendulkar causes immense amount of heart burn for people like you. I actually enjoy it.

If cook beats it a lot of indians will be crying and might have natioal mourning dag. I feel your pain as cook is closing in. I have nothing against Tendulkar I am just saying cook is on his way beating his record which is burning the your heart. It's not as if I have said something wrong about him. Stating a fact a bitter one.

 

[jeeteshssaxena]

If cook beats it a lot of indians will be crying and might have natioal mourning dag. I feel your pain as cook is closing in. I have nothing against Tendulkar I am just saying cook is on his way beating his record which is burning the your heart. It's not as if I have said something wrong about him. Stating a fact a bitter one.

Cook won't be able to do that.

 

[Mamoon]

If cook beats it a lot of indians will be crying and might have natioal mourning dag. I feel your pain as cook is closing in. I have nothing against Tendulkar I am just saying cook is on his way beating his record which is burning the your heart. It's not as if I have said something wrong about him. Stating a fact a bitter one.

Cook won’t get close. He is pretty much finished and will retire after the Ashes next summer. I hate to break it to you, but no one will break Tendulkar’s record in Tests.

 

[Khan12]

Cook won’t get close. He is pretty much finished and will retire after the Ashes next summer. I hate to break it to you, but no one will break Tendulkar’s record in Tests.

Don't worry if he break it or not he's already giving the Indians a lot of sleepless nights.

 

[Khan12]

Cook won’t get close. He is pretty much finished and will retire after the Ashes next summer. I hate to break it to you, but no one will break Tendulkar’s record in Tests.

I don't care if anyone breaks it or not all I am saying is that if someone plays that amount of matches it won't be difficult.

 

[Mamoon]

I don't care if anyone breaks it or not all I am saying is that if someone plays that amount of matches it won't be difficult.

No one can play 200 matches. That’s the point.

You have to become international class at 16 and maintain world class performances for two decades.

Tendulkar was a unique combination of extraordinary talent and sheer hard work and determination.

 

[Khan12]

No one can play 200 matches. That’s the point.

You have to become international class at 16 and maintain world class performances for two decades.

Tendulkar was a unique combination of extraordinary talent and sheer hard work and determination.

It won't be hard for an England Batsmen as they play around 10 to 15 test a year if someone starts at the age of around 18_20 they will have a chance.

 

[Sidilicious]

It won't be hard for an England Batsmen as they play around 10 to 15 test a year if someone starts at the age of around 18_20 they will have a chance.

If someone does start at that age and remains on the top of his game and goes on to break Sachin's recored, then that batsman will deserve it.

But there is a reason no one has been able to remain at the top his game to score those many runs. Its because talents like that are a one in a generation thing.

 

[the_outsider]

The reason why Sachin played 200 is he started at 16. Both kallis and sanga would have easily gone past him which hurts a lot of indians. Unfortunately they can't swat the bitter truth. Cook is well on it's way to beat his test record as long as keep his form.

Go on YouTube and watch a video where Lara talks about why Sachin was playing international at 16 while he couldn't do it. Because in Lara's words "he was very very special".

Nobody is stopping anyone to debut at 16 or 14 or even 7 years old as long as they can compete at the highest level. Sachin could. Others couldn't.

And like I said Cook may beat Sachin's test record but he can't even play LOI cricket. He's half the batsman Sachin is because he holds the record for most Test and ODI batsmanship.

 

[the_outsider]

I don't think any country's fans try this hard to devalue Sachin as a player. That should tell exactly where the motivation comes from. Don't be so jelly.

 

[Ab Fan]

Tendulkar's legacy isn't about sheer amount of runs and hundreds he scored. I think that is one people should understand at first.

Secondly, given Cook's form and the number of times he comes close to getting dropped shows that he doesn't have much left to show up. He is a fighter no doubt and a mentally tough player which is why he has made his comeback so many times. But I feel he might retire after the India series only because he is pretty much done as a test cricketer.

Anyways, records and milestones are just numbers and nothing more. Kallis and Sanga didn't went for the record because they knew they won't get it and hence , Kallis , timed his retirement perfectly while Sanga decided to make some savings through the different leagues all round the world as he knew he won't make it to 2019 WC.

Joe Root might get to it and if he is able to break the record, he truly deserves that because the amount of matches he plays across the format takes a huge toll on his body. It will be really incredible from him if he breaks the record although it is a long way to go and will require him to maintain his form for a long long time.

 

[Hitman]

Sachin was scoring Test centuries in places like Australia, England and South Africa the first time he toured those countries. Those were the early 1990's.

He was just 18 when he toured Australia and scored 2 centuries in the tour, one at Sydney and one at Perth. Perth during that time was lightning fast, and was the fastest pitch in the world. Richie Benaud considered that century in Perth to be be the best innings he saw by a non-Aussie batsman in Australia.

Imagine an 18 year old lad coming from the sub continent playing such an innings during his first tour to Australia, that too on Perth.

 

[Balthazar]

While we are on the subject felt like posting these stats.

In ODIs, there's almost 4k runs difference between Sachin and the next player. He has the highest average for top 10 run getters.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/83548.html

For Tests, he has the third highest average for top 10 run getters.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/wi/content/records/223646.html

 

[Tusker]

The reason why Sachin played 200 is he started at 16. Both kallis and sanga would have easily gone past him which hurts a lot of indians. Unfortunately they can't swat the bitter truth. Cook is well on it's way to beat his test record as long as keep his form.

The PCB after seeing a 16 year old Tendulkar in 1989 ( when he looked more like a 14 yr old kid ) decided that if this guy can start at 16 so can our players and selected a 16 year old player ( I forget his name lol). I will leave it to you tofigure out what became of this player.

 

[Abdullah719]

Cook getting in the mood for some runs this summer

180 against India A. http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/...-unofficial-test-india-a-tour-of-england-2018

 

[Bhaijaan]

Class player and well respected by Indians.

Pakistanis hate him and ridicule him by comparing him to Sachin the greatest of all time.

 

[idrizzy]

Class player and well respected by Indians.

Pakistanis hate him and ridicule him by comparing him to Sachin the greatest of all time.

lol what?

 

[idrizzy]

12145 compared to like 15900 or so. Cook is 33 years old. England won't keep him until 37 so it seems unlikely he'll break the record but you never know considering they have trouble with finding opening batsmen.

 

[kuskash]

Class player and well respected by Indians.

Pakistanis hate him and ridicule him by comparing him to Sachin the greatest of all time.

You are funny.

 

[AssassinatedDevil]

Ominous signs ahead for India. Cook seems to have been scoring runs and Root back to top form in the last 2 ODIs. England's Test bowling is better than their LOI bowling imo, so it should be a cracker of a series.

 

[Abdullah719]

Horrible start to the series for Cook. Roasted by Ashwin and dropped Kohli on 20.

Is it possibly his farewell series?

 

[TM Riddle]

Got out on two exact same deliveries.
It was like watching the replay of first innings. Credit to Ashwin though for bowling those two perfect gem of a balls.

 

[Bhaijaan]

He's been saving his face with big double hundreds in dead rubbers. I see him failing like 8/10 times these days which is not cool for a great player which he undeniably is.

 

[Ab Fan]

I felt he would retire after the series. His eyes are gone. He had a poor tour to Australia and New Zealand earlier, although Pakistan did helped him get some runs like they have always done to Cook (lol) but I think he is done as a cricketer and should retire after this series on a very happy note.

He has been their prolific run-scorer on two out of the three greatest achievements England has in this millenium and alongside Gooch and Boycott, their best opener since 70s.

 

[dravidthewall]

20 more centuaries needed to break the record of sachin

 

[James]

I felt he would retire after the series. His eyes are gone. He had a poor tour to Australia and New Zealand earlier, although Pakistan did helped him get some runs like they have always done to Cook (lol) but I think he is done as a cricketer and should retire after this series on a very happy note.

He has been their prolific run-scorer on two out of the three greatest achievements England has in this millenium and alongside Gooch and Boycott, their best opener since 70s.

I think he should retire after the 2019 Ashes in England, we have upcoming tours of Sri Lanka and West Indies in the lead up to that and in those attritional conditions we will need his nous at the top of the order, and then of course in an Ashes series you can’t buy the experience of his who knows how many previous Test matches against Australia (must be dozens that he has played).

But after that, yes he then should go.

 

[Oligochaetes]

3800 odd to go...he is only 33~34..he could still theoretically make it. But he will have to regain some semblance of his form, not be dropped and not retire and maybe play till 40.

It is still possible. But will his body and form obey him?

 

[navin]

still, 3696 runs away.............................................

 

[Bhaijaan]

Could end up averaging less than 40 by the time he reaches near Tendulkar's runs.

 

[the_outsider]

So much has been made of Sachin's quantity of runs and hundreds that losing the top spot in either of these categories would really harm his legacy.

Unlike Lara, he wasn't an artist and destroyer of the best attacks. Unlike Ponting, he wasn't a destructive match-winner. Unlike Kallis, he wasn't a consistent stalwart. He was a runs accumulator and hundreds collector. Cook being better than him at these two things would be devastating.

Before some genius points to blah blah blah Wisden, blah blah blah ESPN: This is why you don't rate players until the end of their careers. Sachin was definitely poised to become the best batsman of all time, back in 2001, but guess what? He fell well short and became renowned for his hunger and selfishness, instead of masterful batting.

Compare the stock of Umar Akmal and Mohammad Amir from seven-eight years ago to now.

Bradman, Viv, Lara, Ponting, Warne and literally countless other greats consider him the greatest batsman of the modern era, if not all time.

But you know better. PP should be lining up for your autograph.

 

[Ab Fan]

I think he should retire after the 2019 Ashes in England, we have upcoming tours of Sri Lanka and West Indies in the lead up to that and in those attritional conditions we will need his nous at the top of the order, and then of course in an Ashes series you can’t buy the experience of his who knows how many previous Test matches against Australia (must be dozens that he has played).

But after that, yes he then should go.

You made a good point actually. I wasnt aware of the fact that your next tours are Sri Lanka and West Indies and in Sri Lanka, he can surely get some runs vs SL in SL as he is a good player of spin, definitely better than his replacement if he gets dropped, who I think will find it hard against Sl spinners in SL.

Unfortunately, unless something dramatic happens, I dont see him performing vs Australia though.

 

[Hitman]

Bradman, Viv, Lara, Ponting, Warne and literally countless other greats consider him the greatest batsman of the modern era, if not all time.

But you know better. PP should be lining up for your autograph.

He is nowhere to be seen ever since his hero Amla has been batting like a proper tail ender and Kohli has been dominating the current series

 

[kuskash]

Sachin’s records seem huge, imagine he had chance to play against Indian bowlers like other non-Indian greats.