In assesing greatness of Sachin Tendulkar should we combine test match and O.D.I's

[Harsh Thakor]

On of the most debatable arguments in the analysis of a batsman or cricketer is whether the players figures in test matches should be combined with those in one day Internationals.It is intriguing that some of the modern superstars greatness has been attributed equally to one day cricket as to test cricket with Viv Richards,Wasim Akram,Sachin Tendulkar ,Javed Miandad and Kapil Dev being striking examples.If we delete the one day International performances the likes of Viv ,Wasim,Sachin or even Kapil would be rated lower down the order.Sachin Tendulkar's staggering 100 international hundreds are far ahead of the rest of the pack than his 51 test match hundreds. Statistically Jacques Kallis may well overhaul Tendulkar's total number of 51 test centuries and aggregate runs.Counting only test cricket Tendulkar is hardly far ahead of Kallis or even Brian Lara for that matter,considering the number of tests Lara played.Combining tests with ODI's Sachin is like a creature from another planet.Tendulkar has been a better match-winner in ODI's than test matches. Cricketers like Bradman,Headley,Sober,s Gavaskar,Imran or Botham earned their reputation on the basis of test match cricket as against first class or one -day Cricket.In Contrast Jack Hobs first class performance is what threw light on his greatness. Imagine if we did not have one day Cricket.Arguably then Tendulkar or even Lara ,Kallis and Ponting could focus greater attention on test cricket.Infact excessive one day cricket hampered the batsmen's technique.If test cricket was solely counted then Ponting and Lara could come in much more into the reckoning for the spot of best batsmen of the modern era.In that light if one considers the level of bowling attacks Sunil Gavaskar could have been placed above Tendulkar as well as Sir Garfield Sobers.Alan Border would then win the battle with Javed Miandad while Curtly Ambrose would rate ahead of Wasim Akram. The one day format is a different ball game.In many ways it is loaded in favour of the batsmen but also remember the pressure of the run rate,especially in a run chase.Batsmen hardly have the time to build their innings and are virtually forced to improvise strokes,particularly in the closing stages.The one day game requires geniuses of another kind who can mastermind improvisation like Sir Viv Richards or Michael Bevan.Test cricket is the ultimate set of a batsman's ability to cope with different types of pitches and bolting attacks. I wish to know reader's views whether in placing Tendulkar at the top they would do it solely on his test match batting performances but also on his O.D.I.efforts.If Viv Richards played in the modern era I would have backed him to score more ton sthan Tendulkar while I would back both Gavaskar and Sobers to overhaul Tendulkar's aggregate of centuries.Personally counting only test matches I think Brian Lara,Sunil Gavaskar and Gary Sobers would just marginally nose ahead.Adding all forms of cricket Sachin would be3rd,2nd or even 1st!Would we then be correct in stating that it is test match cricket that is the truest form of cricket?

[vamos_rafa]

That's a nice line of discussion. I was thinking along the same lines today. Someone like Kallis has a fair shot of going past Sachin in tests whilst in ODIs no one's even close to him. Having said that, are we trying to say that Sachin's stats in tests are only a product of his longevity and nothing else? Kallis may or may not break Sachin's records but has been always able to play on his A-game against the best of attacks of his times? I certainly don't think so. Sachin was denied a good 10-15 test matches in his pomp due the the kind of scheduling we had. That's not an excuse but if we see, India in the '90s never really got to play many tests. I feel that on pure batting terms he can be conisdered the greatest by virtue of his test match prowess alone.

[India-KXIP fan]

When many teams had legendary bowlers how was Kallis then? Don't think as good as SRT. Now only his own team has those types of bowlers, next best were Anderson and Zakk in recent times. Not greats by any means. The quality of bowlers when Kallis peaked was lower than the quality when SRT was in mid twenties.

[putrevus]

As Test batsman Tendulkar is on par with his Peers like Lara, Ponting and Kallis but when combined with ODIs is where Sachin separates himself from the pack. As an all rounder and excellent slip fielder, there is no competition Kallis is the best.

[moniker]

If Tendulkar hadn't played ODIs you can't say that his test stats would've been the same as it is now. He could've put more into tests. These kinds of comparisons are futile.