Lara v Tendulkar: A Comparison

Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar are two of the greatest batsmen of the modern era. Some like Tendulkar, while others love Lara. I have read the analysis, statistics, opinion pieces, interviews of teammates quite regularly over the last two decades, and hence thought of summarizing them here so that the readers can take a quick look at the facts and figures.

Statistics: Tendulkar scored 15,291 runs in 200 tests at an average of 53.78, with 51 hundreds and 68 fifties. The highest score by Sachin is 248*. Lara scored 11,953 runs in 131 tests at an average of 52.88 with 34 hundred and 48 fifties with a highest score of 400*. Although their batting average is similar, the longevity of Tendulkar makes his test statistic more prolific than Lara.

Ability to stay at the crease: Lara scored 7 double centuries and 3 triple centuries while Tendulkar scored 6 double centuries. Lara scored them in 70 tests fewer than Tendulkar. It means Lara had the knack of playing longer innings, and could convert an opportunity into a massive score.

Bowler and Fielder: As a fielder, Tendulkar took 115 catches while Lara took 164 catches and from what I have seen, Lara was a better athlete, a better fielder, and a great catcher. Tendulkar was a part-time bowler which Lara was not and Tendulkar won few matches for India with his bowling. So Tendulkar gets an edge over Lara in this measure.

Team support and match-winning ability: Tendulkar scored 15.76% of team's run scored while Lara's tally stands at 20.33%. While Tendulkar was supported by the likes of Sourav Ganguly, Mohammad Azharuddin, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, and VVS Laxman for the most part of his cricketing career, while there were only a few world-class batsmen like Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Carl Hooper to aid Lara during his batting career. Lara handled the pressure of scoring runs for his team better than Tendulkar, and was more of a match winner.

Ricky Ponting said:

“Lara won more games for his team than Sachin probably has. I'd lose more sleep as captain knowing Lara was coming into bat next day than I would with Sachin.”

Technical Expertise: In terms of technique, Tendulkar had a copy-book stance and could played shots anywhere and anytime. He could play spin and pace with equal ease, and was the most rounded batsman I have known. Lara, on the other hand, was a left-handed batsman who had high backlift, liked to shuffle a bit at the crease and adjust his shots at the last minute. Sachin had a mildly better technique and hence difficult to bowl as compared to Lara.

playing their shots

Pressure Handling Ability: The ability to bat steadfast under pressure was the hallmark of Lara. He played for two days at a stretch when he was on song. Tendulkar did not play longer innings in tough match situations. Lara played with a number 10 batsmen and scored a century, which Tendulkar never did.

Legends Speak: Vivian Richards once said: “I didn’t see Don but to me, in all my years associated with the game, I haven’t seen a better batsman than Sachin Tendulkar”.

Sunil Gavaskar in an interview with The Hindu exclaimed: "He was the closest thing to perfection. He could play on the front foot, the back foot…all around".

Shane Warne was once quoted as saying: "I'll be going to bed having nightmares of Sachin just running down the wicket and belting me back over the head for six. He was unstoppable. I don't think anyone, apart from Don Bradman, is in the same class as Sachin Tendulkar".

Greg Chappell said he loved the way Lara handled the spin attack. "I loved the way he played spin bowling and I admired his determination to always do it his way. If you told me I could pick just one of that trio, I would take Lara".

Jacques Kallis picked Brian Lara as the best batsman he has ever played against when asked by ESPNcricinfo editor. Kumar Sangakkara also wrote in ESPNcricinfo: "Whatever he did on the field he did with style and grace. He was not just a cricketer, he was a performer. There have been many great players, but few with the same ability to thrill a crowd".

Muttiah Muralitharan once admitted, "I have played against a lot of great batsmen but one person I found very hard to bowl to is Brian Lara".

Conclusion: I have seen more innings of Tendulkar as compared to Lara. Along with this, if I analyze the different measures listed above and conclude then Tendulkar emerges as a slightly better batsman than Lara.