A half century of centuries is no mean achievement. An average of 99.9 runs in Test matches is equally unparalleled.
With Sachin Tendulkar slamming his 50th ton the decade long debate of who among Tendulkar and Don Bradman is the greatest batsmen in the game of cricket is again alive.
Television, print, online all media platforms across India and some in Australia are abuzz with the debate, which for me does not exist.
Game’s evolved
What the debtors forget is the fact that both are geniuses in their own rights and over the decades the gentleman’s game has evolved but it seems that those debating the topic haven’t.
Google ‘Sachin Tendulkar Don Bradman’ and staggering 81, 900 results pop up and the debate can be traced back to 2001. When BBC did a debate and compared the maestros almost a decade back, Don on their scale outnumbered master blaster by two points.
Cut to 2010, without doubt Tendulkar has made up for those two points, but in no way would have surpassed Bradman.
Numbers
Watching the Debate on who is the best on CNN-IBN, what struck me was former test player Sanjay Manjrekar’s comment was that in Bradmans era the second best average was at the max 60, whereas today there are many near Sachin’s average.
Post War the game changed, while Don Bradman could only play 52 test matches, he managed to hit 29 centuries. Tendulkar on the other hand has played 175 test matches. While Don hit a century every 1.8 test Tendulkar managed triple digit runs every 3.5 test.
However if you taken into count the first class centuries scored into consideration Bradman shows his class; Don has 146 of them collectively compared to Tendulkar’s 127. (Source of stats for both: wikipedia)
Having said that its difficult to find those who accept the supremacies each of these greatest batsmen hold in their eras.
Emotions
The debate generates extreme sentiments. In a report in The Sydney Morning Herald Sourav Ganguly when asked his opinion said Tendulkar, while former Australian cricketer Greg Chappel picked Don.
It’s not merely cricketers, even bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan couldn’t hold back his emotions when he blogged and tweeted saying that Sachin is the best and that is all.
Once more
The debate will continue, but let’s salute the greats.
Sachin has raised the bar indeed and see who dares to overtake him. A century of tons collectively in ODI and Test too is not far away.
You bet the debate will come alive again.
Avinash Kalla 
I agree today’s cricket and every aspect of it including money and competitiveness is bigger and better. Comparing both of them is not right. Sachin’s game is a different genre.
Really, comparison between the two is an insult to both… Players across generations can’t be compared, only contemporaries can be matched, and that too when they play the same formats… As such, both of them exceeded all expectations and will occupy significant positions in the history of the game..
thats brilliantly put across.. i agree good to find people who think the same this frenzy is uncalled for
A comparison might be possible between the two, however that could only be made by a person of their stature. I am not, and neither those who are comparing….. so its a meaningless debate…(good you made the point)
well wonder who is the closest to tese two giants in cricket…lara, pointing, dravid???all way behind in numbers