Brian Lara vs. Sachin Tendulkar
Now that Brian Lara's scored another scintillating double century will start the usual comparisons - Is Lara a better batsman than Sachin? For me, the answer is clear. Sachin is a mighty fine batsman, but on the greatness scale, Brian Lara scores higher.
Brian, along with Ricky Ponting, has the ability to score when the team needs him. Even Sachins' critics would agree that he has failed for India on that score. Be it the last World Cup Final, the present Champions Trophy must-win match against Australia, Sachin has just failed to deliver when needed to the most.
For many years now, he has been carrying the weight of shoring up a weak batting line - up, and has done it with some style. The same cannot be said of Sachin. He has had the luxury of having strong batsmen to support the team. While the weight of expectations on Sachins' shoulders is high, Brian Lara also has the responsibility of leading a considerably less talented West Indian line - up. And he has managed to do it with some degree of success lately. And we all know how miserably Sachin failed when the responsibility of captaincy was thrust on him.
Lara also has the ability to convert his knocks into big ones. 6 of his centuries have been converted into doubles, one was a triple, and was a 400! In comparison, Sachin only has one knock above 200, and experts agree that it was one of his worst knocks.
I have nothing personal against Sachin. It is commendable how he has managed to keep his head, when all around him seem to have lost theirs. My gripe is against the coterie of media and advertising people, who have created the hype of Sachin - the greatest ever batsman. Sachin is a good batsman, even possibly a great one, but it would be a stretch to call him the greatest ever.
Brian, along with Ricky Ponting, has the ability to score when the team needs him. Even Sachins' critics would agree that he has failed for India on that score. Be it the last World Cup Final, the present Champions Trophy must-win match against Australia, Sachin has just failed to deliver when needed to the most.
For many years now, he has been carrying the weight of shoring up a weak batting line - up, and has done it with some style. The same cannot be said of Sachin. He has had the luxury of having strong batsmen to support the team. While the weight of expectations on Sachins' shoulders is high, Brian Lara also has the responsibility of leading a considerably less talented West Indian line - up. And he has managed to do it with some degree of success lately. And we all know how miserably Sachin failed when the responsibility of captaincy was thrust on him.
Lara also has the ability to convert his knocks into big ones. 6 of his centuries have been converted into doubles, one was a triple, and was a 400! In comparison, Sachin only has one knock above 200, and experts agree that it was one of his worst knocks.
I have nothing personal against Sachin. It is commendable how he has managed to keep his head, when all around him seem to have lost theirs. My gripe is against the coterie of media and advertising people, who have created the hype of Sachin - the greatest ever batsman. Sachin is a good batsman, even possibly a great one, but it would be a stretch to call him the greatest ever.
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