on Wednesday, December 22, 2010
The former, often referred to as Little Master or Master Blaster, is Indian’s very own Sachin Tendulkar who is the highest run scorer in Tests as well as ODIs and record holder of the most centuries in either form; and the latter widely referred to as The Don is Australia’s sporting idol Sir Donald Bradman whose 20-year playing career records are no less than a benchmark for youngsters. Both legends, though from two completely different times, have so many similar traits that it’s only natural to draw comparison.

Don Bradman, once while watching cricket on the TV, suddenly called out to his wife in excitement saying, "Look! There! The batsman on the television. Don't you think he reminds you of me?" No points for guessing, the batsman was Sachin Tendlukar. Much like Bradman was, Sachin is five feet six inches tall and dominates every kind of bowling attack with a similar ease. Yet, the only deserving way to truly assess Bradman vs Tendulkar is the comparison amid the many factors that made up their style of play.

Both, Tendulkar and Bradman were more or less proportionately capable considering their unpredictable nature and their run-scoring methods, while Bradman’s strokeplay rises a bit above Tendulkar’s. Bradman’s run-scoring speed was unimaginable when he scored a whooping 452 in only 415 minutes. However, one can disagree stating that the over rates in the thirties and forties were much better than today’s.

On a go-getter type of attitude, Tendulkar’s 24 Test hundreds before his 28th birthday is a considerable achievement. Yet again, Bradman made 10 Test double hundreds and 2 triple hundreds with a total 6 triple and 37 double hundreds in first-class cricket, simply phenomenal! Tendulkar has scored 6416 runs in 79 matches and Bradman 6996 in 52.

On a more personal front, Tendulkar is similar to Bradman in many ways like unfailingly courteous, modest, clean-living and comfortable with his own company, still unlike Bradman he has maintained his popularity with team-mates as well as opponents.

However, finally, the prominent fact about both legends comes down to the impact they have had on the lives of others and not about the runs they have scored or the averages they have attained. Bradman rose to popularity in Australia particularly during the Great Depression and instantly became a symbol of hope for the countless unemployed, while a source of entertainment for others. Similarly, for the people of Mumbai, Calcutta, Delhi, or any other Indian city, Sachin is no less than an idol or a God of late in a cricket crazy country like India.